CWR in situ conservation in the national and international context

Wildpflanzenarten, die mit unseren Kulturpflanzen verwandt sind, sind eine unverzichtbare genetische Ressource für die Pflanzenzüchtung. Zugleich sind sie wichtig für die Funktion von Ökosystemen und ökosystemaren Dienstleistungen. Als Teil der biologischen Vielfalt sind sie wie viele andere Arten zunehmend bedroht. Der Erhalt ihrer Vielfalt als genetische Ressource ist ein gemeinsamer Auftrag und ein gemeinsames Anliegen von Naturschutz und Landwirtschaft. Die genetische Vielfalt der Wildpflanzen kann nur in begrenztem Umfang langfristig ex situ erhalten werden. Zudem ist eine evolutive Weiterentwicklung und genetische Anpassung an sich verändernde Umweltbedingungen nur möglich, wenn neue genetische Vielfalt im Verlauf der natürlichen Reproduktions- und Ausbreitungsprozesse entsteht. Deswegen ist es notwendig, verwandte Wildarten primär in situ, das heißt die natürlichen Lebensräume der Arten und lebensfähige Population zu erhalten, um so ihr Anpassungspotential zu bewahren. Komplementär dazu sollten Muster in Genbanken, die besonders für gefährdete Populationen ein Sicherheitsduplikat darstellen, erhalten werden. Diese Ressourcen werden so für Charakterisierung, Evaluierung und Nutzung in Forschung und Züchtung leichter zugänglich. Die Notwendigkeit der Erhaltung der genetischen Diversität der Wildpflanzen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (WEL) ist explizit in globalen Übereinkommen und Aktionsplänen wie der Konvention zur Biologischen Vielfalt, den nachhaltigen Entwicklungszielen der Vereinten Nationen, dem Internationalen Vertrag über Pflanzengenetische Ressourcen für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (PGREL) und dem Globalen Aktionsplan für PGREL der Welternährungsorganisation festgeschrieben. Mitgliedsländer wie Deutschland verpflichten sich, Erhaltungsstrategien für Wild- und Kulturpflanzenarten, die die Vorzüge der Erhaltung in situ im natürlichen Lebensraum mit den Vorteilen der Konservierung ex situ in Genbanken verbinden, zu entwickeln. Das Fachprogramm für pflanzengenetische Ressourcen des BMEL sieht als Handlungsbedarf besonders die Etablierung von genetischen Erhaltungsgebieten (GenEG) vor, um die Erhaltungssituation von in Deutschland als besonders wichtig angesehenen Arten und Artengruppen zu verbessern. Mit der Einrichtung des nationalen „Netzwerk Genetische Erhaltungsgebiete Deutschland“ wird eine Rahmenstruktur geschaffen, in der sich bestehende und zukünftige WEL-Erhaltungsmaßnahmen eingliedern und koordiniert werden können. Das Netzwerk besteht aus Teilnetzwerken für prioritäre Wildarten, die von Fachstellen koordiniert werden. Teilnetzwerke bestehen aus GenEG für Populationen, die basierend auf wissenschaftlichen Kriterien ausgewählt werden. Das Gesamtnetzwerk wird vom Informations- und Koordinationszentrum für Biologische Vielfalt der Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung koordiniert. Je nach Biologie der genetischen Ressourcen gestalten sich die Identifizierung von Populationen und die Ausweisung von GenEG unterschiedlich. Vorgehensweisen wurden in vier durch das BMEL geförderten Modellund Demonstrationsvorhaben entwickelt. Diese betreffen die letzte überlebende Population der Wildrebe, Wildselleriearten, historische Grünlandflächen und Wildobstarten. Entsprechende Teilnetzwerke befinden sich in unterschiedlichen Phasen des Aufbaus. Der Aufbau, die Ausweisung und das langfristige Management von GenEG erfordert eine ressortübergreifende Zusammenarbeit zwischen Landwirtschaft und Naturschutz.Wild plant species related to our crops (crop wild relatives, CWR) are an indispensable genetic resource for plant breeding. At the same time, they are important components for ecosystems and for ecosystem services. Like many other species, they are increasingly threatened by climate and environmental changes and preserving their diversity as a genetic resource is a common mission and concern of nature conservation and agriculture. The genetic diversity of wild plants can only be preserved to a limited extent in ex situ conditions. In addition, evolutionary development and genetic adaptation are only possible if new genetic diversity is created through natural reproductive and dispersal processes. It is therefore recommended to preserve CWR primarily in situ, i.e. to maintain the natural habitats of species and viable populations, in order to preserve their adaptation potential. In situ conservation should be complemented by conserving samples in gene banks, which represent safety duplicates especially for endangered populations. Through ex situ conservation these resources also become more easily accessible for characterization, evaluation and use in research and breeding. The need to preserve CWR genetic diversity is explicitly stated in global conventions and action plans such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the Food and Agriculture Organization's Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Member countries, such as Germany, undertake to develop conservation strategies for wild and cultivated plant species that combine the advantages of conservation in situ in natural habitats with the advantages of conservation ex situ in gene banks. The German national programme for plant genetic resources envisages the establishment of genetic reserves, with an initial focus on improving the conservation of species and species groups that are regarded as particularly important in Germany. The establishment of the “German Network of Genetic Reserves” provides for a framework in which existing and future CWR conservation measures are integrated and coordinated. The network consists of sub-networks for priority CWR species or species communities, which are coordinated by competent agencies. Sub-networks consist of genetic reserves for populations selected on the basis of scientific criteria. The German Network is coordinated by the Information and Coordination Centre for Biological Diversity of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food. Depending on the biology of the genetic resources, the identification of populations and the designation of genetic reserves vary. Procedures were developed in four model and demonstration projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. These regarded the last surviving populations of wild vines, wild celery species, historical grasslands in the Swabian Alb and Alpine foothills and wild fruit species, primarily in forestry. Corresponding sub-networks are in different phases of establishment. The establishment, designation and longterm management of genetic reserves require interdepartmental cooperation between agriculture and nature conservation

Selecting for useful properties of plants and fungi – Novel approaches, opportunities, and challenges

Humans use plants and fungi for a wide range of purposes and, over millennia, have improved wild species by selecting for and combining genetic variation. Improvements in DNA sequencing technologies have enhanced our capacity to identify and manipulate genetic diversity, increasing the range of variation that can be utilized, and accelerating the breeding cycle to reduce the time taken to develop and put new varieties to use. Most recently, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology has greatly increased our capacity to directly introduce novel genetic variants without unwanted associated material. Moreover, increased knowledge of metabolic pathways resulting from genomic analysis can be used to design new varieties with desired properties with increased precision. Selecting for, or engineering, desirable variants has increased the usefulness of plants and fungi to humans, but at the cost of reducing their genetic diversity, decreasing their resilience and reducing the stock of variation available for future use. Conservation of genetic biodiversity is thus an essential counterpart of crop improvement and is essential to ensure that crop species retain resilience to emerging threats. Conservation efforts are focused on orphan crops, wild relatives of crop species, and landraces; in and exsitu efforts are complementary. Informatic approaches can inform use of these materials in breeding programmes even in the absence of genomic information. The application of some of these approaches may be restricted by ethical, legal, or organizational obstacles. If these can be overcome, there is great potential to unlock previously untapped reservoirs of biodiversity for human benefit

State of the world’s plants and fungi 2020

Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi project provides assessments of our current knowledge of the diversity of plants and fungi on Earth, the global threats that they face, and the policies to safeguard them. Produced in conjunction with an international scientific symposium, Kew’s State of the World’s Plants and Fungi sets an important international standard from which we can annually track trends in the global status of plant and fungal diversity

Main Challenges and Actions Needed to Improve Conservation and Sustainable Use of Our Crop Wild Relatives

Crop wild relatives (CWR, plural CWRs) are those wild species that are regarded as the ancestors of our cultivated crops. It was only at the end of the last century that they were accorded a high priority for their conservation and, thus, for many genebanks, they are a new and somewhat unknown set of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. After defining and characterizing CWR and their general threat status, providing an assessment of biological peculiarities of CWR with respect to conservation management, illustrating the need for prioritization and addressing the importance of data and information, we made a detailed assessment of specific aspects of CWRs of direct relevance for their conservation and use. This assessment was complemented by an overview of the current status of CWRs conservation and use, including facts and figures on the in situ conservation, on the ex situ conservation in genebanks and botanic gardens, as well as of the advantages of a combination of in situ and ex situ conservation, the so-called complementary conservation approach. In addition, a brief assessment of the situation with respect to the use of CWRs was made. From these assessments we derived the needs for action in order to achieve a more effective and efficient conservation and use, specifically with respect to the documentation of CWRs, their in situ and ex situ, as well as their complementarity conservation, and how synergies between these components can be obtained. The review was concluded with suggestions on how use can be strengthened, as well as the conservation system at large at the local, national, and regional/international level. Finally, based on the foregoing assessments, a number of recommendations were elaborated on how CWRs can be better conserved and used in order to exploit their potential benefits more effectively

Effective Coordination and Governance of PGRFA Conservation and Use at the National Level—The Example of Germany

Recognition of the importance of plant genetic resources started in Germany at the end of the 19th century. Plant research and breeding began to develop in the 1920s. Formal structures of public institutions were founded, long-term conservation facilities were established, private breeding initiatives developed. In 1990, the German reunification required an assessment of the existing research and breeding landscape. This milestone allowed a comprehensive overview of the great number of stakeholders, active in the entire range of tasks related to plant genetic resources. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture then developed a conceptual approach for an efficient governance structure and published its concept of a national programme for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture in 2000. It recognized the sharing of decentral responsibilities among the respective public and private actors and governmental levels with dis-tributed mandates and funding. It also led to the establishment of a central information and coordination center for genetic resources, which facilitates the data sharing, communication, and co-operation among stakeholders, supports public awareness and advises the Federal Ministry on national policies and efficient European and global cooperation. It also supports efficient contributions of German stakeholders into European structures and international bodies. An equivalent conceptual approach and governance structure is recommended to be established at European level

Template for the Preparation of a Technical Background Document for a National Strategic Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Crop Wild Relatives

This template has been preprared to assist countries in documenting and detailing the scientific aspects of the development of National Strategic Action Plans (NSAP) or National Strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of crop wild relatives (CWR). This document will thus constitute a technical background document that forms the scientific basis of the NSAP and complements the main NSAP document for which a template is also available (Dulloo et al. 2017). The template here published is in MS Word format but a Pdf version is also provided for the purpose of showing the layout (as opening the Word document using different versions may interfere with the suggested layout). This template has been prepared based on the 'Resource Book for Preparation of National Conservation Plans for Crop Wild Relatives and Landraces' (Maxted et al. 2013), commissioned by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) as part of the ongoing work on implementing the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA), and the 'National Level Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives and Wild Food Plants: Revised Draft Voluntary Guidelines' (CGRFA 2017). It has also resulted from several years of research and experience from working with various countries, including Mauritius, South Africa and Zambia which have already used it and provided feedback on its structure and content within the framework of the EUR funded SADC CWR project (http://www.cropwildrelatives.org/sadc-cwr-project/)

CWR checklist and inventory data template v.1

The objective of this template is to help users to establish a CWR checklist and inventory in a systematic manner. The compilation of a CWR checklist and the collation of additional data for the prioritization of CWR species to include in a CWR inventory are the first steps in conservation planning and for the subsequent development of a National Strategic Action Plan for the conservation and sustainable use of CWR. A CWR checklist is a list of CWR taxa found in a defined geographic unit (usually a country or region), which comprises a list of taxon names and authorities. A checklist usually contains more taxa than can be actively conserved due to financial and human resources constraints (Maxted et al., 2013; Magos Brehm et al., 2017)—therefore, a list of priority taxa is drawn from the checklist to form the CWR inventory. To aid prioritization, information about the actual and potential utilization value of the CWR for crop improvement, Red List status, distribution and socio-economic value of the related crops is collated. The CWR inventory, usually developed only for the prioritized CWR taxa, contains additional information about the biology, uses and conservation status of the taxa. The descriptors used in the template were developed in the context of three major international CWR projects: PGR Forum (www.pgrforum.org), the UNEP-GEF CWR project (www.cropwildrelatives.org), and PGR Secure (www.pgrsecure.org) and take into account descriptors previously published (Kell et al., 2008; Moore et al., 2008; Alercia et al., 2012; Thormann et al., 2013). This template was developed within the framework of the ACP-EU funded project ‘In situ conservation and use of crop wild relatives in three ACP countries of the SADC region’ (SADC Crop Wild Relatives, www.cropwildrelatives.org/sadc-cwr-project/). The template is based on the "Crop wild relative checklist and inventory descriptors, v.1", published by Bioversity International and University of Birmingham

Template for the Preparation of a National Strategic Action Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Crop Wild Relatives

This template has been preprared to assist countries in preparing their National Strategic Action Plans (NSAP) or National Strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of crop wild relatives (CWR) in a consistent manner. Having a uniform template for countries to prepare their NSAP is important because it allows the upscaling of national efforts on the conservation and use of CWR to regional and even global levels, provided that other countries adopt this template. An accompanying template for collecting detailed scientific and technical data and information, as a basis for the preparation of the NSAP, is also available (Magos Brehm et al. 2017). The template here published is in MS Word format but a Pdf version is also provided for the purpose of showing the layout (as opening the Word document using different versions may interfere with the suggested layout). This template has been prepared based on the 'Resource Book for Preparation of National Conservation Plans for Crop Wild Relatives and Landraces' (Maxted et al. 2013), commissioned by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) as part of the ongoing work on implementing the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA), and the 'National Level Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives and Wild Food Plants: Revised Draft Voluntary Guidelines' (CGRFA 2017). It has also resulted from several years of research and experience from working with various countries, including Mauritius, South Africa and Zambia which have already used it and provided feedback on its structure and content within the framework of the EUR funded SADC CWR project (http://www.cropwildrelatives.org/sadc-cwr-project/)

Occurrence data collation template v.1

The collation of plant species’ occurrence data is a fundamental task in conservation planning and subsequently in the development of a National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP), or National Strategies, for the conservation and sustainable use of plant species, because it provides the baseline information which will help to define long-term conservation management recommendations for plant diversity. Given the diverse nature of the potential sources of occurrence data (e.g. genebank accessions, herbarium specimens, bibliographic references, internet references, biodiversity or botanical databases, personal communications from experts, field observations), occurrence data are normally varied in both the format and type of information provided and, therefore, need to be standardized. This template was thus prepared to assist users to collate plant species' occurrence data in a systematic manner and at the same time standardize it to perform data analyses that are usually needed when planning for their conservation, including facilitating the formatting of data needed to be used with the CAPFITOGEN tools (Parra-Quijano et al. 2016, http://www.capfitogen.net/). The template here published is in MS Excel format as this is perhaps the most used spreadsheet. Sources of the descriptors used in the template include Alercia et al. (2012), Castañeda Álvarez et al. (2012) (descriptors used in the 'Adapting agriculture to climate change: collecting, protecting and preparing crop wild relatives' project, Dempewolf et al. 2014) and the 'ExternalSourcesDataFormat.xlsx' file created by Mauricio Parra-Quijano for the CAPFITOGEN package (http://www.capfitogen.net). It is important to note that some descriptors’ names and definitions have been modified and adapted. This templates was developed within the framework of the ACP-EU funded project ‘In situ conservation and use of crop wild relatives in three ACP countries of the SADC region’ (SADC Crop Wild Relatives for short). It has also resulted from several years of research and experience from working with various countries, including Mauritius and Zambia which have already used it and provided feedback on its structure and content. NOTE that this worksheet is protected with a password and some of its content and structure cannot be edited

Planning complementary conservation of crop wild relative diversity in southern Africa

Aim To identify priority areas for in situ conservation and collection of germplasm for ex situ backup of crop wild relative (CWR) diversity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region as part of an action plan for the conservation and use of the region's important CWR diversity. Location SADC region. Methods Diversity, gap and climate change analyses at species and ecogeographic diversity levels were undertaken for 113 regional priority CWR taxa. Results CWR hotspots were identified in Eswatini (former Swaziland), Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Twenty-one per cent of regionally priority CWR occur exclusively outside existing protected areas (PAs), 50% are not conserved ex situ, and 64% are predicted to be negatively impacted by climate change. A total of 120 existing PAs in 13 countries were identified as containing populations likely to persist in the future for 80% of CWR taxa and about 50% of the ecogeographic diversity of these taxa; remaining diversity can be conserved in an additional 151 complementary sites in 11 countries. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania contain important areas for conserving CWR diversity in situ in which no negative climate change impact is predicted. Priority CWR diversity in the provinces of Bas-Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Cabinda (Angola) is threatened by climate change and should be collected urgently for ex situ conservation. Other areas rich in ecogeographic diversity that is not conserved ex situ are located in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Main conclusions We identified 120 PAs and 151 complementary sites outside of PAs in 13 SADC countries that could form the basis of the SADC Network for In Situ Conservation of CWR. We also selected priority areas for filling gaps in ex situ collections and for field survey