SGRP Annual Report 2000 of the CGIAR

SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page i

Annual Report 2000 sgrp of the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme

IPGRI is a Future Harvest Centre supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page ii

The Future Harvest Centres* comprise 16 food and environmental research organizations located around the world, which conduct research in partnership with farmers, scientists and policy-makers to help alleviate poverty and increase food security while protecting the natural resource base. The Centres are principally funded through the 58 countries, private foundations, and regional and international organizations that make up the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The CGIAR is co- sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.

The System-wide Genetic Resources Programme (SGRP) joins the genetic resources programmes and activities of the Future Harvest Centres in a partnership whose goal is to maximize collaboration, particularly in five thematic areas. The thematic areas—policy, public awareness and representation, information, knowledge and technology, and capacity building—relate to issues or fields of work that are critical to the success of genetic resources efforts. The SGRP contributes to the global effort to conserve agricultural, forestry and aquatic genetic resources and promotes their use in ways that are consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity. IPGRI is the Convening Centre for SGRP. The Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources (ICWG-GR), which includes representatives from all Centres and FAO, is the Steering Committee.

The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) is a Future Harvest Centre supported by the CGIAR. IPGRl's mandate is to advance the conservation and use of genetic diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. IPGRl's headquarters is in Maccarese, near Rome, Italy, with offices in * CIAT Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali, Colombia; another 22 countries worldwide. The institute operates through CIFOR Center for International three programmes: (1) Plant Genetic Resources, Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia; CIMMYT Centro Internacional de (2) CGIAR Genetic Resources Support, and (3) the International Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo, Mexico Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP). DF, Mexico; CIP Centro Internacional de la Papa, Lima, Peru; ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Cover photo: Shallow pools near Al Griniti, Chad, harbour wild rice Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic; ICLARM The and Acacia and Balanites trees. They are good places to feed and World Fish Center, Penang, Malaysia; water cattle, and the people also harvest the wild rice. ICRAF International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, Nairobi, J. Toll/IPGRI Kenya; ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, India; IFPRI Citation: International Food Policy Research SGRP 2001. Annual Report 2000 of the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Institute, Washington DC, USA; IITA International Institute of Tropical Resources Programme. International Plant Genetic Resources Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria; ILRI Institute, Rome, Italy. International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; IPGRI International Plant Genetic Resources ISBN 92-9043-489-9 Institute, Rome, Italy; IRRI International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines; ISNAR IPGRI International Service for National Agricultural Research, The Hague, The Via dei Tre Denari, 472/a Netherlands; IWMI International Water 00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino) Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka; WARDA West Africa Rice Rome, Italy Development Association, Bouaké, Côte d'lvoire. © International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, 2001 SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page i

Annual Report 2000 of the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page ii

Contents Introduction 1

Regular programme activities 3

Keeping our promises: The Global Conservation Trust 6 The challenge and the promises 6 Keeping our promises 9 Gearing up for the campaign 10 The future 14

SINGER—The CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources 15 Increasing availability and user access 15 A gateway to CGIAR information 16 Global information exchange 18

Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management 20 Background 20 Ecosystems and conservation 22 Diversity and resilience 24 Genetic resources and natural resources 26 The challenge of integration 26 Conservation and use in conflict 26 Research in INRM 28

Members of the ICWG-GR in 2000 30

SGRP secretariat staff in 2000 32

SGRP reports and publications in 2000 32

Financial report 33

Abbreviations and acronyms 34

Centre addresses 35 SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 1

1 Introduction Introduction The ‘new’ CGIAR will be built cutting-edge science in on the foundation of the service of poor farming system’s 30 years of communities around the Over time, new and growing experience and progress. world. developmental challenges It will actively pursue strategic Collaboration was also the such as climate change, the alliances, both inside and watchword in the international management of water and outside the system. The arena this year as the Food land resources, natural Future Harvest Centres will and Agriculture Organization disasters, health and engage national agricultural of the United Nations (FAO) nutritional concerns have research systems, government Commission on Genetic added layers of intricacy to institutions, universities, civil Resources for Food and the endeavours of the society organizations and Agriculture (CGRFA) moved CGIAR (Consultative Group private-sector companies in closer to the successful on International Agricultural creative and harmonious renegotiation of the Research) to mobilize partnerships to formulate and International Undertaking on agricultural research in the undertake a strategic research Plant Genetic Resources. struggle against hunger, agenda that will use Real progress was made poverty and environmental agricultural research to towards the establishment of degradation. Meeting these respond to the major a multilateral system for challenges requires the challenges blocking human access to genetic resources CGIAR to transform itself development. Productive and for sharing the benefits into a new organization collaboration will also prevail arising from their use. The defined by agility, at the international level, CGIAR, represented by the responsiveness and cost- linking national, regional and International Plant Genetic efficiency. Thus, in 2000 the international institutions Resources Institute (IPGRI) CGIAR launched a major worldwide that share a and with strong support from effort to redefine itself for common interest in mobilizing the CGIAR System-wide the 21st century.

A fruit market in Sierra Leone shows how access to diversity enables smallholders to market more produce, boosting incomes. J. Toll/IPGRI SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 2

Genetic Resources role in improving the Programme (SGRP), has been integration of ex situ and in extremely active throughout situ approaches to genetic Introduction the negotiations in providing resources management. technical advice to the In 2000, SGRP received Commission members. The funding from Japan, The implementation of the 1996 Netherlands, Switzerland and Global Plan of Action for the the World Bank, with a special Conservation and Sustainable World Bank and Future Utilization of Plant Genetic Harvest contribution to the Resources for Food and fund-raising feasibility study. Agriculture (GPA) has been Their generous support is another major subject under gratefully acknowledged. consideration in the negotiations. The Undertaking has been described as the crossroads where agriculture, environment and trade meet. Its successful adoption, which it is hoped will occur in November 2001, will represent an important step towards putting into place the political framework for a global system of genetic resources collections. This annual report details three major endeavours of SGRP undertaken in 2000. The first was a feasibility study and the development of a plan for launching a major initiative to raise sustainable funding for national and international genetic resources collections. The second was the continued improvement of the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources (SINGER) as an information resource on the in-trust collections and initial steps towards its expansion into a truly global information network. The last major activity this year involved examining the role of genetic resources in ecosystems and considering SGRP’s potential SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 3

3 Regular programme activities REGULAR SGRP’s annual workplan was conservation and use and PROGRAMME set at the 10th meeting of the exploring how to strengthen Inter-Centre Working Group networks. ACTIVITIES on Genetic Resources (ICWG- Future Harvest Centre staff GR), which was hosted by have been present throughout IPGRI at its headquarters in the FAO negotiations of the SGRP links the genetic Rome, Italy, from 7 to 11 International Undertaking as resources programmes and February 2000. Throughout observers and have played an activities of all CGIAR the year, the Programme extremely important role in Centres in a partnership concentrated on further raising awareness and whose goal is to maximize improving policies and providing technical advice collaboration, particularly in practices for managing the in- on the various options five thematic areas. The trust collections. In the area of facing the Commission in the thematic areas—policy, information, activities focused development of the multilateral public awareness and on improving the quality and system. representation, information, accessibility of data on the At the Fifth Meeting of the knowledge and technology collections and on building Conference of the Parties to and capacity building— capacity in the Future Harvest the Convention on Biological relate to issues or fields of Centres to support this Diversity (COP5), the CGIAR, work that are critical to the undertaking. Work in the area represented by SGRP, success of global genetic of knowledge and technology stressed the importance of resources efforts. generation included on-going the open exchange of genetic activities on developing resources for food and decision aids for better agriculture, noting the many genebank management, networks around the world furthering collaborative that depend on germplasm research in cryopreservation exchange and citing examples and improving methods of of the flows of germplasm animal characterization. In the from the Centres to countries area of capacity building, as an indication of the activities continued with the benefits of multilateral preparation of training exchange. The active modules focused on participation of the Centres in managing programmes for the debate was undoubtedly genetic resources influential in getting language

In the Sahel farmers extend their fields and nomads seek better grazing to cope with less available water. These pressures are best responded to with integrated natural resource management. J. Toll/IPGRI SGRP AR0122/10/0110:20amPage4 4 Regular programme activities J. Toll/IPGRI r fields orintest-tubes,both maintained ascollectionsin genebanks, sodiversityis in cassava cannotbestored inTogo.seen here Seedsof their easeofpreparation, Cassava varietiesdifferin elatively costly. the Inter-Governmental participated inthemeetingof Malaysia. SGRPalso (IUFRO) inKualaLumpur, Research Organizations UnionofForest International the Augustmeetingof participation andoutreach at coordinated CGIAR Forestry Research (CIFOR) Center forInternational Agroforestry (ICRAF)andthe Centre forResearch in IPGRI, theInternational decision onaccesslegislation. system intoCOP’s final in supportofamultilateral Under thebannerofSGRP, Diversity inthe21 Managing PlantGenetic Science andTechnology for Conference on International together withCOP5,the 2000. Thesemeetings, the CGRFA inSeptember Animal GeneticResources of T materials. and otherpublicawareness SGRP posters,factsheets distribution anddisplayof provided opportunitiesforthe the biannualCGIARmeetings, Malaysia, inJune2000,and held inKualaLumpur, echnical Working Group on st Century SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 5

5 future harvest Centres

14 9 12

3 8

13 16 10 15 6 1 7, 11 2

1 CIAT 5 ICARDA 9 IFPRI International Rice Research Centro Internacional International Center Food Policy Institute de Agricultura for Agricultural Research Institute DAPO Box 7777 Tropical Research in the Dry 2033 K St NW Metro Manila Apdo. Aéreo 6713 Areas Washington, DC Philippines Cali PO Box 5466 20006 Colombia Aleppo USA 14 ISNAR Syrian Arab Republic International 2 CIFOR 10 IITA International Service for National Center for 6 ICLARM Institute of Tropical Agricultural International The World Fish Agriculture Research Forestry Research Center PMB 5320 Laan van Nieuw Jalan CIFOR PO Box 500,GPO Ibadan Oost Indië Situ Gede, 10670 Penang Nigeria 2593 BM The Hague Sindangbarang Malaysia The Netherlands Bogor, Barat 16680 11 ILRI International Indonesia 7 ICRAF Livestock Research 15 IWMI International Centre Institute International Water 3 CIMMYT for Research in PO Box 30709 Management Centro Internacional Agroforestry Nairobi Institute de Mejoramiento United Nations Ave. Kenya PO Box 2075 de Maíz y Trigo PO Box 30677 Colombo Apdo. Postal 6-641 Nairobi 12 IPGRI Sri Lanka 06600 Mexico, DF Kenya International Plant Mexico Genetic Resources 16 WARDA West 8 ICRISAT Institute Africa Rice 4 CIP International Crops Via dei Tre Denari, Development Centro Internacional Research Institute 472/a Association de la Papa for the Semi-Arid 00057 Maccarese 01 BP 2551 Apdo. 1558 Tropics (Fiumicino) Bouaké Lima 12 Patancheru 502 324 Rome Italy Côte d’Ivoire Peru Andhra Pradesh India 13 IRRI International SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 6

KEEPING OUR The SGRP joins the genetic objectives, an approach that PROMISES: resources programmes and firmly links the thematic THE GLOBAL activities of the Future Harvest activities with the goal of Centres in a partnership supporting a major effort to CONSERVATION whose aim is to maximize safeguard the Earth’s TRUST collaboration amongst the collections of plant genetic Centres in this vital area of resources. The Future Harvest Centres their work. supported by the CGIAR are SGRP has two strategic driven by the common objectives: The challenge and the strategy of using science to promises solve the greatest problems • Countries meet their needs of human development and responsibilities for the The establishment of many of worldwide. The Centres conservation and use of the world’s genebanks took address this broad strategy genetic resources place in the atmosphere of

Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation Trust in various ways, concerning • The Future Harvest crisis that characterized the themselves with different Centres meet their 1970s and 1980s. Scientists regions, species and commitments to manage rightly believed that the race ecosystems. They are all, genetic resources against genetic erosion was however, profoundly literally a race against time. concerned with the Until now, SGRP has Every day, traditional crop conservation and use of addressed these objectives varieties and their wild agricultural biodiversity to independently and chiefly relatives were disappearing ensure that people have through activities conducted from farmers’ fields and from adequate food, shelter and in five thematic areas. the forests, cast aside in other necessities of life, The thematic areas—policy, favour of more genetically both now and in the future. public awareness and uniform types with potentially The Centres host the representation, information, higher yields or falling victim foremost international effort knowledge and technology, to global warming, changing to conserve and manage and capacity building—relate cropping patterns, resource crop, forage and to issues or fields of work that degradation, destruction of agroforestry genetic are important to the success habitats or shifting resources. They also devote of global genetic resources ecosystems. This threat of significant attention to the efforts. Recently, SGRP has genetic erosion led to the conservation and use of begun to take a more holistic mobilization of a world-wide aquatic, livestock and forest approach to realizing its twin effort—coordinated by FAO genetic resources. and IPGRI’s predecessor, the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR)— to collect imperilled crop resources for safeguarding in genebanks. The eleventh-hour rescue mission was extraordinarily successful. It would eventually lead to the establishment of about 1300 collections of plant genetic Genebanks sometimes fail to meet the highest standards, resources around the world, which can endanger their holding more than 6 million holdings. Unprocessed seeds accessions. However, the on the floor and a bucket to catch drips suggest that this operation precipitated the genebank needs upgrading. construction of a ‘system’ of J. Toll/IPGRI ex situ collections SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 7

7 Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation TrustKeeping our promises: the Global Conservation characterized by a non- conservation role of a systematic assortment of genebank.” strategies, plans and In addition to inadequate structures. And a large facilities—including faulty number of genebanks equipment, precarious established during the crisis electricity supply and years did not make sufficient difficulties in drying seed provision for ongoing financial (particularly in the tropical support. Some of these regions)—the majority of genebanks have now closed national genebanks and others are in a state of experience problems in deterioration. carrying out the routine Today, according to FAO’s regeneration needed to first Report on the State of the maintain viability and to World’s Plant Genetic replenish their stocks. Resources, most countries do Complete and technologically not have adequate facilities appropriate information for the long-term ex situ systems, and the elimination conservation of plant genetic of unnecessary duplication resources. The Report notes from collections were also that “there are many ... identified by the FAO Report [genebanks] ... that are as key areas requiring perhaps incapable at present attention. of performing the basic

Drying seeds is important for long-term storage. The conventional genebank approach is to use a low-humidity drying room, as in Ethiopia. F. Botts/FAO But IPGRI has been experimenting with a low-tech approach, comparing the effects of sun and full shade on seed longevity, as shown below at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center in Niger. J. Toll/IPGRI SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 8

In 1996, the nations of the clear that the full realization of world made an important the goals of the Plan would promise to future generations require a significant increase in to take the urgent actions current levels of activity, and needed to protect and use thus in funding. the world’s rapidly shrinking The central importance of agricultural biodiversity. the genetic resources That promise, enshrined in collections held in the Future the Global Plan of Action for Harvest Centres of the CGIAR plant genetic resources, was has long been understood and adopted by 150 countries at recognized. The CGIAR has Leipzig, Germany. The Global played the major international Plan gave significant role in ex situ conservation of emphasis to strengthening ex plant genetic resources for situ conservation and use, food and agriculture for over

Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation Trust and underlined the 30 years. Since their earliest importance of supporting days, the Centres have been related activities, such as scrupulously collecting, regeneration, documentation, storing, studying and sharing restoration, capacity building genetic resources with and public awareness. researchers and breeders all The FAO Commission over the world. Today, they Storage alone is not enough; genebanks must regenerate guides the implementation of hold in trust the world’s most samples as seeds lose the Global Plan. In monitoring extensive and important viability. At the Vavilov implementation over the past international ex situ collections Institute, St Petersburg, Allium crops are grown for several years, the Commission of plant material. The seed in cages that keep out has found that countries and collections account for a very pollinators that might institutions alike are using their large proportion, possibly in jeopardize the genetic integrity of the sample. own resources and existing excess of 50%, of the world's J. Toll/IPGRI capacity to implement the holdings of unique accessions Global Plan. However, it is under secure, long-term conservation. For the food crops of primary concern to the CGIAR, this proportion is likely to be even higher. The material in the Future Harvest genebanks includes valuable traditional varieties and landraces, non- domesticated species, advanced and obsolete cultivars, breeding lines and genetic stocks. It is this wide variety of potentially useful diversity that makes the collections so valuable and the effort required to assemble so much material so impressive. In 1994, the Future Harvest Centres made promises of their own: to hold these collections in trust for humanity and to make the genetic resources in the SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 9

9 Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation TrustKeeping our promises: the Global Conservation collections available without Keeping our promises restriction. These promises were formalized through The promises represented by legally binding agreements the 1994 agreements with signed with FAO. FAO and the Global Plan of As with countries, it has Action are the roots of the been a challenge for the Global Conservation Trust. Future Harvest Centres to The idea of establishing an make good on their promises. endowment to match the Funding constraints have long-term nature of funding limited the ability of the commitments to the long-term Centres to fully meet the nature of conservation standards of operation commitments has been expected under the FAO mooted within SGRP for agreements. A 1995 external several years. The 1995 review of Future Harvest external review of the Centre genebank operations genebanks, noted above, and recommended several the genebank investment and improvements to their upgrading plan developed in procedures and physical 1999 laid the groundwork for facilities but offered no an ambitious initiative. At the solution to the quandary of CGIAR’s Mid-Term Meeting how to fund these 2000, the Finance improvements on an ever- Committee’s Working Group shrinking budget. A on Long-term Resource fundamental question facing Mobilization recommended the CGIAR at the end of the the further exploration of the 20th century was that of how possibility of establishing an to meet its perpetual endowment to support the in- responsibility as trustee of the trust collections. world’s largest public-domain From the start, SGRP collections on the basis of firmly recognized its annual funding alone. commitment to realizing its primary objective: to assist countries in meeting their needs and responsibilities for

Coconut diversity is best stored in the form of in vitro plantlets. IPGRI has developed techniques that allow field workers to collect sterile plugs of plant material that are taken back to the laboratory for regeneration of plantlets. IPGRI SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 10

the conservation and use of The study was conducted genetic resources. This over a period of about four commitment has also been months and involved recognized by the nations of interviews with more than 130 the world: the Global Plan individuals from governments, makes explicit mention of the foundations and corporations CGIAR in 14 of its 20 in about 30 countries. The activities and recognizes the result of this process was the in-trust collections as determination by CCS that, essential components of the given certain conditions (such global system it aspires to as endorsement of the create. initiative by FAO, the CGIAR Throughout the spring and and the World Bank), it would summer of 2000, extensive be possible to raise very consultations were held with significant funds to support

Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation Trust FAO and with constituencies the conservation and use of in the Group of Seven leading the genetic resources of key industrial countries (G7), agricultural crops held in developing countries, the national, regional and Global Forum for Agricultural international collections Research (GFAR) and the non- (including the in-trust governmental organization collections held by the Future (NGO) community. The Harvest Centres) around the purpose: to consider the world. desirability of a major campaign to raise funds for supporting national and Gearing up for the regional genetic resources campaign collections as well as international collections. Costing conservation These consultations gave An SGRP-sponsored study, rise to a collective vision that carried out by the would simultaneously secure International Food Policy the future of the in-trust Research Institute (IFPRI) in collections and set into collaboration with the motion the process for University of California, developing and sustaining an Berkeley, added depth to the internationally agreed rational findings of the 1999 global genebank system as upgrading and investment called for in the Global Plan. plan by providing best At International Centres estimates of the amount of Week 2000 the CGIAR agreed money required each year to to proceed with a formal support the core conservation study of the feasibility of the and distribution services endowment campaign. provided by the Future Community Counselling Harvest genebanks. The Services (CCS), an report used these cost international fund-raising firm, estimates to determine the was employed to carry out the size of an endowment fund study, with support from required to provide for the SGRP, Future Harvest and the collections in perpetuity. The World Bank through funding study was based on a series made available by the CGIAR of detailed costing exercises Finance Committee. led by IFPRI over the past SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 11

11 Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation TrustKeeping our promises: the Global Conservation several years in collaboration US$150 million; obviously with the genebanks at five this figure is subject to Future Harvest Centres—the variation based on interest International Center for rates and crop regeneration Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the cycles. While the SGRP International Maize and Wheat study examined only core Improvement Center conservation and distribution (CIMMYT), the International costs, the authors very Center for Agricultural strongly recommended Research in the Dry Areas supplementing any (ICARDA), the International endowment fund with Crops Research Institute for adequate resources to allow the Semi-Arid Tropics for further characterizing the (ICRISAT) and the Future Harvest collections in International Rice Research order to increase their worth Institute (IRRI)—that in plant breeding. collectively account for nearly The value of the SGRP 90% of the in-trust material study is not restricted to the held by the CGIAR. light it sheds on the The study concluded that maintenance costs of the in- the annual cost of trust collections over time. conserving and distributing Before long, it will be genetic resources from the necessary to conduct a in-trust collections is about similar exercise to assess the US$5.7 million. The 1994 perpetual costs associated promise to continue these with endowing a rational Field genebanks—this one is core genebank services for global genebank system, for yams in Togo—require all time could be realized once that system is in place. land, people and resources, but give the opportunity to see through an endowment fund The SGRP study, coupled how varieties compare. IPGRI of approximately with work currently being SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 12

done to update the estimated germplasm accessions. In costs for implementing the general, it is very difficult to Global Plan of Action, should attach value to a particular prove very helpful in accession. developing a costed blueprint The impact study showed for the global genebank that, for certain crops such as system. wheat and rice, genetic resources held by the Future Measuring impact Harvest Centres had SGRP investigated the impact contributed significantly to of genetic resources increasing farmers’ yields and conservation and use during incomes from these crops and the year in support of the to better food security for the public awareness and rural poor. For other crops, educational activities such as chickpea, it proved

Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation Trust expected to underpin the more difficult to identify the Trust campaign. A study contribution of genetic tracked the sequence of resources from the Future events leading to the Harvest collections and hence widespread adoption of a the impact of the collections particular crop variety, from was less easy to gauge. germplasm collecting to Further studies will focus conservation to breeding and particularly on measuring the adoption. It found that many impact of genetic resources modern high-yielding varieties held in national collections. have well-documented pedigrees, making it easy to trace their origins despite their complexity. Others are less easy to trace all the way back to collecting missions, in some cases due to the scarcity of reliable documentation or lack of consistent identifiers for

Genebanks, like that at ICARDA in Syria, manage some samples as ex situ living collections. This can reveal whether genetic changes take place during long-term storage of samples. J. Cherfas/IPGRI SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 13

13 Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation TrustKeeping our promises: the Global Conservation Bananas developed and tested in Latin America and those bred in Africa hold out enormous hope for smallholders around the world. S. Hood/IPGRI

Developing disease- hands in 1984 and now disease. In Cuba, up to a forms the backbone of the three-fold increase in banana resistant FHIA collection. Eleven wild and plantain production has bananas types of banana collected been reported. The varieties from the islands of Borneo are also being introduced An SGRP study traced the use and Java and from Myanmar, into Africa, where they have of wild bananas in the Malaysia, the Philippines and the potential to alleviate the development of new disease- Papua New Guinea were crisis caused by disease- resistant varieties that offer used to develop the disease- devastated crops and thus tremendous potential to resistant bananas. The help millions of people. improve the well-being of the development and testing of world’s poor. The improved the new bananas was an The International Institute of banana hybrids are the international effort, supported Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in product of years of research in part by IPGRI’s Nigeria has also been by the Fundación Hondureña International Network for the developing varieties resistant de Investigación Agrícola Improvement of Banana and to black Sigatoka, work that (FHIA). The hybrids were the Plantain (INIBAP) and a was awarded the King result of a worldwide network of banana Baudouin Award in 1994. collecting effort in the 1960s researchers around the IPGRI, through INIBAP, has a for the United Fruit Company world. joint project with IITA in (UFC), in what was one of the Africa to assess varieties for greatest and most successful INIBAP and its partners are resistance to pests and collecting missions in history. now introducing the FHIA diseases. improved banana hybrids The UFC banana germplasm into areas affected by the collection passed to public deadly black Sigatoka SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 14

14 Documenting germplasm The future flows SGRP has emphasized the The goals of the Global need to document germplasm Conservation Trust are bold flows in order to prove the and ambitious. The Trust aims important role of genebanks to help the world community as providers of germplasm to: and related information and to inform the debate on benefit • Keep the promise to sharing under a multilateral ensure the long-term system. Analysis of data held conservation and in SINGER is revealing some availability of in-trust very interesting trends. For germplasm; example, analysis of records • Keep the promise to amassed over the past 28 ensure the conservation

Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation Trust Keeping our promises: the Global Conservation Trust years of germplasm transfers and sustainable use of of key crops from six Future national plant genetic Harvest Centres [CIAT, resources collections and CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICRISAT, the development of a the International Livestock rational genebank system Research Institute (ILRI) and as called for in the Global IRRI] showed that over 80% Plan of Action; of the material distributed, • Create new partnerships which totaled about a million between the public and samples, went to organizations private sectors that will in developing countries, the ensure a sustainable future vast majority to universities for agricultural research; and national agricultural • Elevate the profile of research systems. Much of agriculture as a the material—73%—that had philanthropic priority. originated in developing countries flowed back to To succeed the Trust must those countries. And raise a minimum of developing countries US$260 million over three requested the same material years from corporations, to be furnished to them an foundations, governments and average of four times per individuals. That success will accession (as opposed to safeguard genetic resources twice per accession for collections for the foreseeable developed countries), future. Most importantly, it will indicating their intensive use demonstrate the partners’ of the requested materials. commitment to excellence in research and development and to the vision of a world where access to food is a human right. SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 15

15 SINGER—the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources SINGER— Increasing availability curators to track where THE CGIAR and user access samples go and what they are SYSTEM-WIDE used for, and to build up a High data quality has always picture of what is in demand INFORMATION been a primary necessity for from users. That can NETWORK SINGER to make full use of demonstrate the impact of the FOR GENETIC information across the CGIAR genebank. The data also help RESOURCES system. During the year the to keep tabs on how material Centres, coordinated by is used and even to track SINGER, finalized their review possible violations of Material of their individual databases Transfer Agreements. Work to Information is essential to and most have now improve data quality is guide the conservation and completed computerizing continuing, with the addition use of genetic resources. information on material of information about Knowing what has been transfers since 1986. characterization and collected and where it is Additional staff were recruited evaluation of accessions. available allows planners to to dig back into the original Access to SINGER is also make rational decisions on collecting reports and records crucial. Early in 2000, the what still needs to be of donation and distribution of SINGER database server was collected and conserved. material and to add this upgraded in response to Information is also central information to Centre increased demand from users. to the effective use of databases. IRRI, for example, The number of queries genetic resources in either supplied or corrected doubled over the course of agricultural development. sample status and other data the year and in December Knowing where samples for more than 38 000 was running at between come from and what their accessions. At the start of 15 000 and 20 000 queries characteristics are enables 2000, only 6% of the per month, reflecting efforts in scientists to decide what accession passports indicated 1999 to improve SINGER’s might be useful under given the status—wild or weedy user-friendliness and circumstances. relative, traditional landrace, accessibility. SINGER now breeding material or advanced reaches a wide variety of In 1994, the Future Harvest cultivar—of the sample. By the users: curators, researchers Centres signed agreements end of the year more than half and, increasingly, breeders. In with FAO formalizing their had correct sample status response to feedback from promise to make in-trust information and overall the Centres and external users genetic resources and level of completeness for the the features for searching and information about them most important data had retrieving data have been available without restriction. increased considerably. improved. In collaboration SINGER has been helping The first data to be with the International Potato the Centres to make good supplied and corrected relate Center (CIP), CIAT and IPGRI, on that promise ever since. largely to what the sample is GIS tools are being integrated In 2000, efforts focused on and where it was collected. into SINGER. This will enrich making it easier to access This is important for linking the passport data by linking and manage these data and the accession to data about accessions to appropriate improving their quality. climate, soil type and other environmental information and SGRP also provided training environmental factors that are will also enhance SINGER’s and support to partners and available through existing mapping features. continued to build strategic geographical information The communications alliances. systems (GIS). More recently mechanisms that are the the emphasis has shifted to bedrock of SINGER’s verifying and completing data usefulness were also on the transfer of samples to improved during the year. users. These data allow Most significantly, the process SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 16

16 How SINGER works

The Centre databases are compiled current. The SINGER Tool Kit—a in a central database, from where specialized software package— the data are made available on the displays the data through the user- Internet. The use of a common data interface and provides multiple query dictionary and standards for key functions integrated with mapping data items such as taxonomy and (global, regional and country level), country names allows system-wide statistical (means, variance and access and searches across multiple standard deviations) and graphic databases, while allowing the (scatter and distribution plots) Centres to keep their autonomous functions as well as data listings and management and individual structure downloadable files. These features of their databases. Frequent optimize the presentation of data replications of Centre databases to and help users to target their the central node ensure that data searches for specific germplasm available through SINGER are kept accessions.

SINGER

SINGER—the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources http://singer.cgiar.org

System-wide

User

Crop-specific Centre database http://[Centre].singer.cgiar.org

Queries at the system-w i de level using common data standards

Queries at the crop-specific level

whereby Centres replicate A gateway to CGIAR their own databases within information SINGER was streamlined, making it more flexible. A new version of the Tool Kit Centres can now upload their was released in 2000. This data more rapidly and in their new version of the interface, original format. As a result which allows users to SINGER contains more interrogate SINGER with the information from the Centres, queries they want answered, and that information is more speeds access to answers up to date. and allows more people to use the database at the same SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 17

17 SINGER—the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources

SINGER makes it possible to time. One feature added to training almost 60 genebank examine information about genetic resources in many the Tool Kit allows breeders to staff, these efforts have also different ways. Each dot on display each variety’s strengthened the capacity of the map represents a pedigree on the Web. This genebank curators to make collecting site in Morocco. was tested on IRRI’s rice their databases of genetic database and CIMMYT’s resources available wheat database in 2000 and independently on the Web as we expect both to be made well as through SINGER. This available in 2001, offering helps the curators to be full users comprehensive and partners in the management integrated access to collected and presentation of germplasm and improved information and to reach their material. clients directly. Each Centre Some Centres have been can also focus on mandated testing the Tool Kit to manage crops and present data in their own databases for the ways that are particularly past two years, with good appropriate to its own work. results. Training has been As a result of these provided in the use of the Tool training and enabling efforts, Kit to Centres with many of the Centres genebanks. In addition to developed their own Web SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 18

sites during the year and, proposal to use SINGER’s thanks to its upgraded model in the development of servers, SINGER was able to EPGRIS—the European Plant host these Web sites. Genetic Resources ICRISAT, IRRI, CIAT and Information Infrastructure. CIMMYT are all in the process SINGER has been contracted of launching their new sites to develop and host the and these are directly linked gateway to EPGRIS and to the entirety of SINGER. attended the first planning SINGER is also hosting seven meeting. There is also the Web sites for the Clearing likelihood of leveraging this House Mechanism (CHM) of work by using it as a basis for the Convention on Biological linking countries in Latin Diversity (CBD), six for African America, a scheme being countries (Burkina Faso, discussed with partners Cameroon, Chad, Democratic through the IPGRI regional Republic of Congo, Mauritania office in Cali, Colombia. Also and Niger) and one for a building on the EPGRIS European country (Belgium). project some Future Harvest Centres, for example CIP, CIMMYT and ICARDA, Global information expressed interest in seeing exchange SINGER expanded to cover

SINGER—the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources their mandate crops, bringing Our ongoing commitment to in regional partners to create develop links with national, three crop-based networks on regional, crop and other barley, sweet potato and information systems has seen wheat. some very productive SINGER sees the advances during the year. development of single-crop Partners are interested in and multi-crop information working with SINGER to networks as being mutually implement their own supportive. Some networks information networks. The cover single crops around the European Union accepted a world, with one of the Future

The two dimensions of building information networking: by crop or multi-crop by country or region Mono-crop dimension

Multi-crop dimension SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 19

19 SINGER—the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources Harvest Centres leading the effort. Others are multi-crop networks that bring national and regional partners together and develop information gateways and catalogues based on passport data from regional holdings that encompass several crops. EPGRIS is a model for this kind of network. In all its efforts, SINGER is guided by the crucial need for information that can be put to use. A continuous programme of improvement ensures that decisions about the conservation of genetic resources and the use of those resources in agricultural development will be based on sound data. SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 20

INTEGRATING Background The Review recalled a 1990 GENETIC CGIAR decision to adopt the RESOURCES INTO The shift towards integrated ecoregional concept as a way natural resource management of integrating the ECOSYSTEM (INRM) has been taking place management of natural MANAGEMENT inside and outside the CGIAR resources and efforts to for the past several years. The increase productivity, the twin Bilderberg Consensus (see pillars of CGIAR research. Genetic resources have http://www.inrm.cgiar.org/ Outside the CGIAR, often been viewed as wshop_report/ additional impetus for somehow separate from the INRMSummaryreport.htm), integrating genetic resources other components of the adopted by Centres in 1999 at into the management of other ecosystems that support a meeting in the Netherlands, natural resources has come agriculture and human places genetic resources from the Parties to the CBD. societies. Perhaps this firmly within the framework of At their fourth meeting in reflects the fact that genetic natural resources, by defining Bratislava in 1998, the Parties resources can be conserved INRM as the “management of agreed to adopt an

Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management ex situ, away from the the land, water, forest and ecosystems approach to ecosystem in question. biological resources base conservation, as set out in the Increasingly, however, (including genes) to sustain Malawi Principles (see box). scientists and policy agricultural productivity and These Principles were makers, and the avert loss of potential developed at a January 1998 communities that use productivity”. workshop held in Malawi in genetic resources, are Also in 1999, the CGIAR's association with the Fourth urging that they be treated Review of System-wide Conference of the Parties of together with other natural Programmes with an the CBD. The 2000 resources. Ecoregional Approach pointed Conference of the Parties in out that “in situ conservation Nairobi, Kenya further cannot be separated from the endorsed the idea that ecoregional approach”. This conservation should take was a clear call to bring the place in the context of management of genetic ecosystems. resources into the framework Against this background, of ecoregional programmes. the SGRP organized a

Farmers, like genebank workers, dry their seeds for storage. Beans (P. vulgaris) are an important crop in Burundi, where farmers have developed safe ways of drying seeds without damaging them. J. Toll/IPGRI SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 21

21 The Malawi Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management principles for 1. Management objectives are 7. The ecosystem approach a matter of societal choice. should be undertaken at the the ecosystem appropriate scale. approach 2. Management should be decentralized to the lowest 8. Recognizing the varying appropriate level. temporal scales and lag effects which characterize 3. Ecosystem managers ecosystem processes, should consider the effects of objectives for ecosystem their activities on adjacent management should be set and other ecosystems. for the long term.

4. Recognizing potential gains 9. Management must from management there is a recognize that change is need to understand the inevitable. ecosystem in an economic context, considering e.g. 10. The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate • mitigating market balance between distortions conservation and use of • aligning incentives to biodiversity. promote sustainable use, and 11. The ecosystem approach • internalizing costs and should consider all forms of benefits. relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and 5. A key feature of the local knowledge, innovations ecosystem approach includes and practices. conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning. 12. The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant 6. Ecosystems must be sectors of society and managed within the limits to scientific disciplines. their functioning.

workshop in 2000 to provide discussed in more detail a clear rationale for below) went forward to the integrating management of CGIAR meeting on INRM in genetic resources into overall August 2000 at ICLARM–The natural resource World Fish Center in Penang, management. The workshop Malaysia and this impetus will brought together Centre be maintained in 2001. geneticists and soil and water SGRP would like to scientists with social identify and promote ways of scientists and external incorporating genetic experts. All sectors—crop, resources activities already livestock, forest and taking place in the CGIAR aquatic—were represented at system into existing the meeting, held at CIFOR in ecosystem-based research Bogor, Indonesia, in June programmes and ensure that 2000 (see Poulsen, J. 2001). in future the two types of The conclusions of the activities are more closely workshop (which are linked. Our goal is to facilitate SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 22

and promote (and, where system and point the way to appropriate, participate in) more integrated management projects looking at the impact of natural resources. of genetic diversity on aspects of ecosystem performance such as Ecosystems and productivity and resilience. conservation The data held within SINGER on genetic resources of the Article 2 of the Convention on CGIAR system could also be Biological Diversity defines an combined with geographical ecosystem as “a complex of information to shed more light plant, animal and micro- on characteristics of organism communities and integrated natural resource their non-living environment management. interacting as a functional Overall, SGRP intends to unit”. The Convention says continue to play a role in nothing about the scale of an

Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management thinking about and developing ecosystem or the definition of INRM. As part of that process its boundaries. One pragmatic we are including in this annual approach to addressing these report a discussion of the questions is to consider the kinds of issues that were energy flows between considered at the Bogor elements in an ecosystem. workshop, along with some of Each species is linked to the case studies that SGRP others as a sink or a source of asked participants to present. energy, and the totality of These draw on existing species, most of whose flows expertise within the CGIAR are with one another, constitutes an ecosystem. But there is always ‘leakage’ and overlap and ecosystems may be linked by occasional ECOSYSTEM 1 transfers between them. In a sense, all the ecosystems recognized as separate by scientists are subsumed within ECOSYSTEM 3 ECOSYSTEM 2 the overall ecosystem that is life on earth. A crucial aspect of the ecosystem approach, therefore, is the determination of scale of activity. ECOSYSTEM 4 Quoting from Article 2 of the CBD again, biodiversity is SPECIES “the variability among living organisms from all sources GENES including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within The hierarchical and nested nature of ecosystems species, diversity between species and diversity of SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 23

23 Case: West Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management African of their normal geometry of adopted the same strategy. single rows of each. They fed As the researchers note, “we savannah their livestock on the crop don't have to take a perfect residues and returned the finished product to the manure to the fields. resource users, there is scope for farmer innovation and Early data indicate that the modification which may help South of the Sahara, in the harvest of cowpea seeds had farmer-to-farmer transfer.” area known as the Sahel, almost trebled, while the physical and biological quality of sorghum grain and Improving crop–livestock changes are in danger of fodder also improved. The systems in the dry savannahs destroying the ecosystem's livestock gained more weight, of West Africa is an IITA-led adaptive capacity. Recurrent and their manure contained multi-institutional project that drought and a continuing more nitrogen. Thus it seems involves two other CGIAR downward trend in annual that a broad systems Centers (ICRISAT and ILRI), rainfall limit the amount of approach can improve national institutions in Nigeria, grazing. Overgrazing by productivity without degrading Niger and Mali, the livestock reduces plant cover the soil. International Fertilizer and changes the make-up of Development Center (IFDC) in the plant communities In following seasons the USA, and the Centre for available to herbivores in researchers worked with the Overseas Research and favour of unpalatable and less farmers to improve cowpea Development (CORD), nutritious species. Lack of yields for farm families and University of Durham, UK. plant cover promotes soil livestock. There is a conflict erosion. Agricultural pressure, between maximizing grain for through reduced fallow people and forage for animals. periods, mines minerals and A few farmers agreed to try organic matter, degrading the harvesting the first sowing as soil further. Human population grain, and then to resow is rising, amplifying and specifically for animal feed. Fodder from the fields and exacerbating the threats to the This gave more grain and carried home to the ecosystem. more fodder than attempting livestock—whose manure to derive both from a single is returned to the fields— makes better use of natural IITA, in cooperation with two sowing. Their neighbours, resources. J. Toll/IPGRI other Future Harvest Centres seeing the benefits, have and other partners, is carrying out an integrated programme to intensify production without degrading the natural resource base further. Working with farmers, researchers have developed best-bet management options that involve the use of improved crop varieties and planting schemes and different management of livestock and crop residues. In an early trial, farmers alternated two rows of local sorghum and four rows of improved cowpea instead SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 24

ecosystems”. Species within Diversity and an ecosystem exist as resilience populations, in which individuals generally differ Over the past several years, from each other at the level of scientists in different the genes. To some extent disciplines have been studying populations of interbreeding in earnest the influence of individuals represent the diversity on the performance biological foundation level of of ecosystems. Studies in the an ecosystem. As with field and in the laboratory ecosystems, there may well have concluded that the more be genetic flows between species an ecosystem individuals from different contains, the more productive ecosystems, but by and large it is and the more stable that the genetic diversity of productivity is over time. species in an ecosystem will There are many reasons why reflect the health and this might be so. In a plant

Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management functioning of that ecosystem. community, a multiplicity of Diversity exists at three species may make more levels: different ecosystems in efficient use of physical a landscape, different species resources, for example by within an ecosystem, and intercepting more light. different genes within a Animals in a diverse system species. Genetic resources may have a larger choice of management aims to species to eat. The same is conserve and, where true of many agricultural appropriate, increase diversity ecosystems. Those that within a species. But because involve more species offer species are components of greater, and more stable, ecosystems, any such harvests. management should take So far there has been no account of the influence of unequivocal proof that the genetic diversity in any one same can be said of species on the functioning of ecosystems that differ in the the ecosystem, and of the levels of genetic diversity influence of ecosystem within single species in the functioning on genetic ecosystem. Agriculture offers diversity in a species. Adding hints that genetic diversity in a the human species, and its species or variety stabilizes interactions with the various yield and often increases ecosystems it inhabits, adds economic productivity. And, as to the complexity. a general rule, ecosystems that have become degraded will be less productive and less able to sustain the species—humans included— inhabiting them. The research goals supported by the CGIAR are to reduce poverty, increase food security and protect the environment. In ecosystem terms, through integrated SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 25

25 Case: Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management Coral reefs PISCES (Population the area's significance to the Interdependencies in the regional economy and value of in the South South China Sea Ecosystems). its biodiversity—with more China Sea than 2000 species of fish and Project workers used 170 coral species—millions of molecular techniques to dollars are spent each year to identify populations of three manage the reefs and reverse Marine ecosystems are often widely distributed reef fish and their decline. These efforts are much harder to delineate than one starfish that are not generally at a local or national those on land, the mobility of exploited. The starfish showed level. But the use of molecular animal components across no indication of distinct investigations of genetic large expanses of ocean populations on the various resources to establish rational complicating questions of reefs across the South China boundaries for management population dynamics. A large Sea, suggesting very wide units may enhance the ecosystem, like the South dispersal of their larvae. The effectiveness of interventions if China Sea, includes many fish, however, were somewhat it enables countries to reefs, each of which could be distinct and could be used to cooperate in managing a considered a separate map genetic flows among the resource that crosses national ecosystem. For management various individual reef boundaries. As a possible purposes, it is important to systems. These data allowed bonus, the establishment of understand the scale at which project scientists to establish very focused cooperative to deal with the natural evolutionarily significant programmes between resources: reef, reef system or management units for the neighbouring states may pave sea. A further complication is model fish species, which the way to more broadly the possible overlap between were then used to define based cross-boundary the physical units for resource resource boundaries for the cooperation and thus may management and the political management of the coral help to bring peace to the entities that control the units. reefs. area. ICLARM is working with partners from six countries in While the project is at an early PISCES is an ICLARM project the region to investigate the stage, it is possible to foresee with additional funding from extent to which reef valuable impacts. The South the United Nations Fund for populations are linked and China Sea is an important International Partnerships how that affects management fishing area, and 5% of the (UNFIP). It includes partners outcomes across the region. 5 million tonnes harvested in from Indonesia, Malaysia, the The collaborative project, the region each year comes Philippines, Solomon Islands, appropriately enough, is called from reef fisheries. Because of Taiwan and Vietnam.

Tropical reef ecosystems form complex geographical units that must be taken into account to manage natural resources effectively. ICLARM SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 26

natural resource management, systems they replace. this translates to promoting Nevertheless, many traditional simultaneously both human farmers consider that species well-being and the overall diversity makes an important health of the ecosystems in contribution to the which people live. productivity and sustainability of their system. The crux for CGIAR Genetic resources and research is to understand the natural resources functional relationships among the components— The positive impacts of biological and physical—of an improved systems of natural ecosystem and, in particular, resource management tend to to understand how genetic work on a reasonably long processes within a population time-scale. The Future can influence and be Harvest Centres typically influenced by the dynamics of

Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management focus on relatively short-term the ecosystem. Research on benefits, such as increases in integrated natural resource production or income. The management has the conservation of genetic potential to illuminate these resources can also be relationships. It resembles directed to these short-term modern ‘systems’ thinking, benefits, but also needs to looking at the interactions address long-term goals such among all the elements in a as the potential for genetic landscape instead of trying to improvement of breeds and isolate a problem from its varieties. The management of broader context. This agricultural production may systems approach offers the involve several scales, from opportunity not only to the single family or optimize the outcome of any community to the regional planned management industry or national policy interventions but also, by forum. Natural resource including the human management generally acts participants in the system, to most effectively if it be more responsive to social encompasses an entire and cultural perspectives ecosystem; larger and smaller than the more traditional scales are likely to be less research approaches. efficient.

Conservation and use The challenge of in conflict integration In the management of all Farmers generally recognize ecosystems there is a tension that they can influence the between use and productivity of their agro- conservation as the human ecological system by species attempts to optimize managing the genetic the present productivity of the diversity within it. Agricultural ecosystem (‘interest’) without systems invariably support eating into the natural fewer species than the natural resources (‘capital’) that SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 27

27 Case: Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management West Asian Authority and Syria—are collaborating in an effort to drylands manage the region's natural resources in an integrated way.

One aspect of the project is West Asia is a centre of looking at the way farmers diversity and home to a huge use and conserve fruit tree array of domesticated cereals, diversity, and the interactions legumes, pasture crops and with livelihoods and water fruit trees. It is also subject to use. Farmers participating in problems arising from scarce the project have established water resources and nurseries to multiply seedlings inappropriate farming that are then sold as practices. These in turn rootstocks. These rootstocks, threaten the survival of crop derived from locally adapted landraces and wild relatives, populations, make more `A Syrian tree nursery, where which are used within the effective use of water and local wild relatives of fruit predominant traditional other physical resources. One trees are grown as rootstocks dryland farming systems. In result is increased harvests for grafting—one aspect of the Drylands Agrobiodiversity an effort to enhance the and incomes, which removes ecoregional project which productivity and sustainability the temptation to plant seeks to help farmers in West of farming in the ecoregion unsuitable improved crop Asia manage all natural resources together. four countries—Jordan, species. Another is that the J. Cherfas/IPGRI Lebanon, the Palestine wild sources of seed, such as, for example, Pistacia atlantica, which provides rootstocks for cultivated Pistacia vera, gain value, which protects the landscapes where they grow. Supply of rootstocks provides a new source of income, which has encouraged farmers outside the project to do the same, preserving their wild biodiversity.

Conservation and sustainable use of dryland agrobiodiversity is a five-year project funded by the Global Environment Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestine Authority and Syria. Regional coordination is provided by ICARDA. IPGRI is also a partner in the project. SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 28

underlie productivity. In this future harvests. From this context, genetic resources point of view one may be may be seen as somewhat happy to see this genetic different from other sorts of diversity removed from the natural capital. ecosystem as long as it The conservation of remains available for future genetic resources (especially improvement of the crop. A in situ conservation) is second viewpoint sees the predicated on the view that same landrace of sorghum as genetic diversity has value in an integral part of the itself as a basis for a healthy ecosystem but may not be ecosystem and is desirable able to put a value on its for human existence. But conservation. ‘Genetic growing human populations diversity as commodity’ puts and the need to enhance food a high value on genes and on security require us to use their exploitation in more genetic resources and to productive genotypes.

Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management develop agro-ecosystems in ‘Genetic diversity as ways that can threaten those ecosystem component’ is genetic resources. Unlike much harder to value, even other natural resources, though it may be vital in however, genetic resources supporting complex can be used without being interactions with other species used up. Numerous strategies and thus contributing to the exist to conserve genetic overall health of the resources while ensuring that ecosystem. the resources can be used, from conservation in genebanks through in situ Research in INRM conservation to conservation through use in working agro- The research outputs of ecosystems. integrated natural resource Within ecosystems, there management are likely to be may be a conflict between the somewhat different from those value of individual of other CGIAR-supported components and the (possibly research. Traditionally, the goal greater total) value of the of research has been to whole system that they maximize productivity. In the comprise. This applies to context of INRM, research will genetic resources also. Within aim to increase (or maintain) the CGIAR system, some the adaptive capacity of agro- research emphasizes the ecosystems so that they value of genetic resources in continue to provide goods an ecosystem as food (food etc.) and services (clean commodities, actual and air, water etc.). Problems that potential. Other research threaten the adaptive capacity values genetic diversity as an of an ecosystem, now or in unused but supportive the future, will be the main component of the ecosystem. target of Centre research. At first glance, a landrace of Such threats can arise from sorghum might be regarded ecological, economic and as a store of genetic variability social arenas, which requires that can be used to improve integrated natural resource SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 29

29 Integrating genetic resources into ecosystem management management to work across other stakeholders) as they all three areas in an make decisions that ultimately interdisciplinary way. It also affect the components of the requires the impacts of INRM ecosystem. research to be assessed at SGRP’s goal is to promote three levels: productivity, projects to uncover the environmental health, and relationships between genetic adaptive capacity. Further diversity and the performance complications arise because of agro-ecosystems. of the need to work at several scales, from the individual field through the farm and community to the landscape, and because of the need to balance the (sometimes) conflicting needs of different stakeholders, for example the need for water to irrigate crops as opposed to water for livestock to drink. Much research that can be considered to be within an integrated natural resource management framework is already taking place at Future Harvest Centres. A range of tools and methods to support integrative decision-making has already been developed. These include new techniques to meld farmer knowledge with results from empirical research and tools that help researchers to understand how the people and processes conserving genetic resources on farms affect the wider distribution and extent of biodiversity in the landscape. The ability to link human and ecological systems at different scales is also improving, as are systems for predictive mapping of species distribution, based on physical factors, and for mapping mental models of resource managers onto physical reality. These breakthroughs support resource managers (including farmers, communities and SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 30

Members Dr Daniel Debouck of the ICWG-GR Head, Genetic Resources Unit in 2000 (CIAT)

Dr John Poulsen Scientist, Research Division (CIFOR)

Dr Bent Skovmand Section Head, Wheat Germplasm Resources Members of the ICWG-GR in 2000 (CIMMYT)

Dr Wanda Collins Deputy Director General for Research (CIP)

Dr Jan Valkoun Head, Genetic Resources Unit (ICARDA)

Dr Stewart Grant Head, Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Research Program (ICLARM)

Dr Tony Simons Leader, Tree Domestication Program (ICRAF)

Dr Paula Bramel (Chair) Principal Scientist, Genetic Resources and Enhancement Program (ICRISAT)

Dr Phil Pardey Research Fellow (IFPRI)

Dr Nyat Quat Ng Head, Genetic Resources Unit (IITA)

Dr Jean Hanson Project Coordinator, Forage Genetic Resources (ILRI)

Dr Coosje Hoogendoorn Deputy Director General, Programmes (IPGRI)

Dr Mike Jackson Head, Genetic Resources Center (IRRI) SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 31

31 ebr f the ICWG-GR in 2000 Members o Dr Joel Cohen Program Director, Information and New Technologies (ISNAR)

Dr Randolph Barker (through 22 November 2000) Senior Advisor to the Director General (IWMI)

Dr Robert Guei INGER Coordinator (WARDA)

Ex Officio Members

Dr Murthi Anishetty Senior Officer, Plant Genetic Resources Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service Plant Production and Protection Division (FAO) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome Italy

Dr Geoffrey Hawtin, SGRP Programme Leader Director General (IPGRI)

Ms Jane Toll, Coordinator, SGRP (IPGRI)

Executive Committee Members

Dr Paula Bramel, ICRISAT Dr Tony Simons, ICRAF Dr Jan Valkoun, ICARDA Ms Jane Toll, Coordinator, SGRP (Secretary of the Executive Committee) Dr Geoffrey Hawtin, SGRP Programme Leader, IPGRI SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 32

SGRP Secretariat of the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources SECRETARIAT Programme: STAFF c/o International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) IN 2000 Via dei Tre Denari, 472/a 00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino) Rome, Italy Telephone: +39-0661181 Fax: +39-0661979661 Email: [email protected]

Ms Jane Toll Coordinator, SGRP

Mr Samy Gaiji Project Leader, SINGER

Ms Layla Daoud Communications and Administration Assistant, SGRP

Mr Milko Skofic

SGRP secretariat staff in 2000 & reports and publications Database Developer, SINGER

SGRP Reports REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS Report of the Tenth Meeting of the Inter-Centre Working Group IN 2000 on Genetic Resources, held at the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Rome, Italy, 7-11 February 2000.

Publications

Engelmann, Florent and Hiroko Takagi (editors). 2000. Cryopreservation of tropical plant germplasm. Current research progress and application. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, Japan/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.

Fowler, Cary, Smale, M. and Gaiji, S., 2000. Germplasm Flows Between Developing Countries and the CGIAR: An Initial Assessment. GFAR-2000, April 2000, Dresden, Germany. 24 pages. Global Forum on Agricultural Research, Rome, Italy.

Pham, J.L., Toll, J. and Morin, S. 2000. Approach to and perspective of in situ conservation on-farm by the International Rice Genebank. In: Conny Almekinders and Walter de Boef (eds), Encouraging Diversity. The Conservation and Development of Plant Genetic Resources. IT Publications, London, pp. 112-117. SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 33

33 SGRP reports and publications in 2000 & Financial report Poulsen, J. (editor) 2001. Genetic Resources Management in Ecosystems. Report of a Workshop Organized by CIFOR for the SGRP, CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia, 27-29 June 2000. Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia.

SGRP. 2000. Annual Report 1999 of the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy.

Financial This report presents income and expenditures for SGRP for Report the period 1 January 2000 through to 31 December 2000. 2000 Income

US$ Opening balance* 462 781 Japan 50 000 Netherlands (DFL 650 000) 288 225 Switzerland (CHF 180 000) 111 095 World Bank** 831 302 * Opening balance includes US$380 000 carryforward for Future Harvest*** 20 000 the initiative on genebanks, Total funds available in 2000 1 763 403 US$68 244 in SGRP’s operating reserve and US$14 357 credits to operating reserve in 2000. IPGRI policy 2000 Expenditures requires reserves to cover 60 days of operating expenses. US$ ** Includes US$600 000 World SGRP coordination 138 823 Bank/CGIAR Finance ICWG-GR meeting 38 221 Committee (FC) special Public awareness 19 706 allocation to genebank initiative Genebank initiative and programme activities and US$60 000 FC special (data work; upgrading and costing studies) 457 839 allocation to Global Global Conservation Trust study 100 881 Conservation Trust study. SINGER 165 359 *** Special allocation to Global Technical and capacity-building activities 169 555 Conservation Trust study. Administrative costs 136 810 Total expenditures 1 227 194 **** Includes US$315 407 carryforward for the genebank Funds available in 2000 1 763 403 and Global Conservation Trust initiatives and US$220 802 in Expenditures in 2000 1 227 194 SGRP’s operating reserve. Closing balance**** 536 209 SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 34

Abbreviations CBD Convention on Biological Diversity and Acronyms CCS Community Counselling Services CHM Clearing House Mechanism CIAT Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research CIMMYT Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo CIP Centro Internacional de la Papa Abbreviations and acronyms COP Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CGRFA FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture EPGRIS European Plant Genetic Resources Information Infra-Structure FHIA Fundación Hondureña de Investigación Agrícola FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations GFAR Global Forum for Agricultural Research GIS Geographical information systems GPA Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture IBPGR International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (forerunner of IPGRI) ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas ICLARM The World Fish Center ICRAF International Centre for Research in Agroforestry ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ICWG-GR Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute IITA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ILRI International Livestock Research Institute INIBAP International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain INRM Integrated Natural Resource Management IPGRI International Plant Genetic Resources Institute IRRI International Rice Research Institute ISNAR International Service for National Agricultural Research IUFRO International Union of Forest Research Organizations IWMI International Water Management Institute NGO Non-governmental organization SGRP CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme SINGER CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources UFC United Fruit Company UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFIP United Nations Fund for International Partnerships WARDA West Africa Rice Development Association SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 35

35 Centre addresses Centre CIAT Addresses Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical Apartado Aéreo 6713 Cali Colombia E-mail: [email protected]

CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research Jalan CIFOR Situ Gede, Sindangbarang Bogor, Barat 16680 Indonesia E-mail: [email protected]

CIMMYT Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo Apartado Postal 6-641 06600 Mexico, DF Mexico E-mail: [email protected]

CIP Centro Internacional de la Papa Apartado 1558 Lima 12 Peru E-mail: [email protected]

ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas PO Box 5466 Aleppo Syrian Arab Republic E-mail: [email protected]

ICLARM ICLARM–The World Fish Center PO Box 500 GPO 10670 Penang Malaysia E-mail: [email protected]

ICRAF International Centre for Research in Agroforestry PO Box 30677 Nairobi Kenya E-mail: [email protected] SGRP AR0122/10/0110:20amPage36 36

Centre addresses E-mail: [email protected] India Andhra Pradesh Patancheru 502324 Crops ResearchInternational InstitutefortheSemi-AridTropics ICRISAT E-mail: [email protected] The Netherlands 2509 AJTheHague P ServiceforNationalAgricultural Research International ISNAR E-mail: [email protected] Philippines Metro Manila DAPO 7777 RiceResearch Institute International IRRI E-mail: [email protected] Italy Rome 00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino) V PlantGeneticResources Institute International IPGRI E-mail: [email protected] Kenya Nairobi PO Box30709 LivestockResearch Institute International ILRI E-mail: [email protected] Nigeria Ibadan PMB 5320 InstituteofTropicalInternational Agriculture IITA E-mail: [email protected] USA W 2033 KStreet NW FoodPolicyResearch Institute International IFPRI .O. Box93375 ia deiTre Denari,472/a ashington, DC20006-1002 SGRP AR01 22/10/01 10:20 am Page 37

37 Centre addresses IWMI International Water Management Institute PO Box 2075 Colombo Sri Lanka E-mail: [email protected]

WARDA West Africa Rice Development Association 01 BP 2551 Bouaké 01 Côte d’Ivoire E-mail: [email protected]