In situ conservation of CWR
Confusion still remains over the definition of, and implementation methods for in situ conservation, even among the conservation and the agrobiodiversity communities.
In situ conservation, where species or populations are protected in their natural habitats, maintains natural evolutionary processes and allows generation of genetic variation. Conservation of CWR mainly focuses on the potential use of genetic traits and the in situ approach is a useful method to reach conservation objectives.
This module aims to provide readers with a detailed explanation of the history, purpose and intended benefits of in situ conservation.
Aims of in situ conservation
In situ conservation primarily focuses on the conservation of natural habitats, notably protected areas and other kinds of reserves, and the conservation, maintenance or recovery of viable population of species in their natural habitats.
In the case of CWR, emphasis is on the conservation of genetic traits of potential use in plant breeding. The long-term goal of CWR in situ conservation is to protect, manage and monitor selected populations in their natural habitats to ensure natural evolutionary processes are maintained, allowing new genetic variation to be generated for adaptation to changing environmental conditions.
Economic and social considerations
The benefits and importance of CWR conservation are often not obvious to either the general public or to local stakeholders. Preserving large areas of land for the conservation of species whose economic potential is uncertain or difficult to perceive is often hard to justify. The involvement and support of local communities is critical for the successful implementation of in situ conservation activities.
The international framework for CWR conservation
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) addresses in situ conservation through Article 8 which promotes: ‘…the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings and, in the case of domesticated or cultivated species, in the surroundings where they have developed their distinctive properties’.
The CBD’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) focuses on in situ conservation in Target VII, 60% of the world’s threatened species conserved in situ, and Target VIII, 10% of threatened plant species included in recovery and restoration plans.
The Global Plan of Action (GPA) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (FAO 1996) presents a global strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources (PGR), specifically recognizing the need to promote in situ conservation of CWR and wild plants for food production (under Priority Activity Area 4).
Downloadable documents
In situ conservation of crop wild relatives: status and trends (132 KB) (2004) Meilleur, B.A. and Hodgkin, T. Biodiversity and Conservation, vol 13, pp 663–684.
In situ Conservation of Wild Plant Species – a Critical Global Review of Good Practices (1.4 MB) [2006 (2005)] Heywood, V.H. and Dulloo, M.E. IPGRI Technical Bulletin, no 11, FAO and IPGRI, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Rome, Italy
In situ and ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees (5.1 MB)(2001) Thielges, B. A., Sastrapradja, S. D., Rimbawanto A. Proceedings of the International Conference on ex situ and in situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees, held on 11-13 June 2001, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Final Project Report of In-situ conservation of Commiphora wightii a red-listed medicinal plant species of Rajasthan state, India (3.5 MB), principal investigator: Dr. Vineet Soni
Forest genetic resources conservation and management:
- Vol. 1 - Overview, concepts and some systematic approaches
- Vol. 2 - In managed natural forests and protected areas (in situ)
- Vol. 3 - In plantations and genebanks (ex situ)
Publications
Frankel, O.H., Brown, A.H.D. and Burdon, J.J (1995) The Conservation of Plant Biodiversity, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (see chapter 6).
Heywood, V.H. and Dulloo, M.E. [2006 (2005)] ‘In situ Conservation of Wild Plant Species – a Critical Global Review of Good Practices,’ IPGRI Technical Bulletin, no 11, FAO and IPGRI, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Rome, Italy
Maxted, N.Ford-Lloyd, B.V.Hawkes, J.G. (eds) Plant Genetic Conservation: The In Situ Approach, Chapman and Hall, London.
Kanowski, P. and Boshier, D. (1997) ‘Conserving the genetic resources of trees in situ’, in Maxted, N.Ford-Lloyd, B.V.Hawkes, J.G. (eds) Plant Genetic Conservation: The In Situ Approach, Chapman and Hall, London.
Kanowski, P. (2001) ‘In situ Forest Conservation: A Broader Vision for the 21st Century’, in Thielges, B.A., Sastrapradja, S.D. and Rimbawanto, A. (eds) In situ and ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees, Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University and International Tropical Timber Organization, Yogyakarta, pp 11–36.
Palmberg-Lereche, C. (2002) ‘Thoughts on genetic conservation in forestry’, Unasylva, vol 53, pp 57–61.