In collaboration with the Thematic Project C09 (Locating and monitoring genetic diversity), whose project coordinator is based in the Americas Regional Office, an activity was carried out from 1994 to 2000 to refine current methodologies used in agro-ecologically-based surveying, planning and prioritization of germplasm collecting and/or in situ conservation activities. 

Vegetables in Syria

A study, which included a survey on genetic erosion of target crops, was carried out using as models, vegetable crops (including Brassica, Capsicum, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Daucus, Lactuca, Lycopersicon, Raphanus and Solanum) and undertaken through a number of field expeditions in Morocco, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Germplasm was collected and characterized for morphological traits. 

An attempt was then made to relate genetic diversity to variation in different aspects of the environment at the collecting site which was carried out with the National Program of Syria. Significant correlation was found between the diversity (between and within-crops) and agro-ecological factors, such as physical and soil properties of the site. Land and soil were found to play a major role in affecting the distribution of the diversity of vegetables in Syria. However, since these species are cultivated, social and cultural factors do also play a significant role in influencing the distribution of their diversity.

Vegetables in Morocco 

New techniques to analyze genetic resources data have been used to locate where a decline in diversity i.e. genetic erosion, took place on vegetables in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.  Based on the study of accessibly and terrain roughness, two areas where erosion of diversity of vegetables took place were located. The study highlighted that the less the rough terrain or the more accessible the area, the higher the genetic erosion would affect the crops cultivated.  The areas studied were situated in the north of the Atlas Mountains towards the city of Marrakech where markets demand commercial varieties over local types. Although this fact highly influences the decline in the area allocated to landraces, the role played by farmers in maintaining diversity in difficult places where these landraces have comparative advantages over commercial types, should be also taken into consideration and further studied.

Survey and collection of fruit trees in Afghanistan

In collaboration with the FAO regional office in Peshawar, Pakistan, a survey and collecting mission was carried out in Afghanistan in 1999 to assess the genetic erosion and rescue valuable germplasm material of some priority fruit tree species (namely Pistacia, Prunus amygdalus, Junglans regia). The survey, which started in the spring of 1999 and covered various districts in the East-Central, North-Western, Eastern and Northern parts of the country, gathered 42 samples of almonds, 11 pistachio, 55 walnut and 41 apricot. A well documented report on the status of the surveyed species was produced Follow-up to this mission included the preparation with FAO, Pakistan of a Public Awareness brochure on the status of  PGR in Afghanistan and a project proposal for the safe maintenance of the sampled germplasm through in situ/on farm conservation in Afghanistan, plus ex situ back up conservation in Pakistan. 

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   In situ/on farm conservation activities in CWANA

The importance of conserving agrobiodiversity for future global food security lies in its potential to supply crop breeders’ and farmers’ needs for achieving sustainable agriculture. In situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity refers to the maintenance of diverse local crop varieties in farmers’ fields.  In situ conservation allows the processes of evolution and adaptation to continue in crop plants, ensuring that new genetic material is generated over time.  In addition, the use of locally adapted materials can reduce the need for fertilizer and pesticides. On farm conservation efforts can serve to improve poor farmers’ livelihoods, in addition to increasing the control and access that farmer and communities have to local crop resources.  A major challenge for in situ conservation is the development of the knowledge needed in national programs to determine where, when and how, in situ conservation will be effective.    

In 1995, as a response to this challenge, IPGRI and its national partners formulated the project,  “Strengthening the scientific basis of in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity on farm” .  The nine partner countries (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia Hungary, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, Turkey and Vietnam) are all within regions of primary diversity for crop genetic resources with world-wide importance. The countries all have national programs organized to conserve crop genetic resources, including ex situ conservation facilities, plus all have a strong interest in developing the national capacity to support in situ conservation.  The project serves to strengthen the relationships between formal institutions and farmers and local-level institutions. The global project was developed with the objectives of: 

1. To develop global and national management frameworks for the implementation of in situ conservation;  

2. To collect and analyze information to determine the amount and distribution of genetic diversity in farmers’ fields, the processes maintaining this diversity including human and natural factors, who is maintaining this diversity, and why is it being maintained; and 

3. To broaden the use of agricultural biodiversity and the participation in its conservation by farming communities and other groups.  

The IPGRI CWANA group is closely involved in the implementation of this Project which has two participating countries from the CWANA area - Morocco and Turkey.  Therefore, a specific Activity,  In situ Conservation of Crop Cultivars in CWANA - was designed to better coordinate the interaction and the involvement of the CWANA group into this endeavor. A Research Assistant was located in Aleppo from 1998 to 2000 to assist in the implementation of C11F tasks.  Since its inception in 1995, the Project has carried out various activities, including:    

• Standardization of methods and tools for data collection

• Identification of key factors that determine the maintenance of genetic diversity 

• Gathering and analyses of integrated data from country components 

• Identification of local PA channels to communicate about agrobiodiversity 

• Adaptation of participatory and empowering methodologies for on farm PGR management 

• Documentation of case studies to show the importance of agrobiodiversity for agricultural development 

• Documentation of case studies to show adding value options 

• Support to training programs  

• Publication and distribution of training materials on in situ conservation for research and extension workers 

• Facilitation of exchange of experiences and organization of scientific meetings at the global level 

• Establishment of strategy planning committee 

• Establishment of linkages with relevant partners through joint workshops, joint publications, joint sub-activities, training, exchange of publications etc.

The direct contribution of the in situ CWANA Research Assistant included the development of a  database, to document the role of pest and diseases in the on farm conservation and the initiation of a GIS analysis using data produced by the CWANA countries.

An in situ/on farm conservation training manual produced by C11 will be shortly tested in Lebanon through the GEF-UNDP Project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Dryland Agro-Biodiversity in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Authority”.

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