Planning the process of PGR conservation and use for a country and putting in place the mechanisms to implement the plan through appropriate policies and legislative measures is fundamental. To do so, the national programmes should have a formally recognized status at national level. The ecological, economic, social and aesthetic values of PGR should be recognised in national planning and policies and in the prioritization and allocation of resources. It is important to develop or adopt existing national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of PGR. The importance of the planning process and appropriate policies for effective conservation and use of PGR is highlighted by CBD (Article 6) as well as by GPA (priority activity 15).
Government planning & policies are often developed & implemented on a sectoral basis under different ministries, & funded as part of the overall government budget. Many countries routinely develop national plans, policies & legislation in agriculture, forestry, environment, education & trade sectors. Activities related to plant genetic resources however may take place in several or all these sectors. Therefore, such plans should include elements of plant genetic resources.
Such plans should recognize & support the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders within the country, including farmers & local users, NGOs, (where appropriate) the private sector, universities & concerned organizations in government ministries including genebanks, crop & forestry improvement institutes & research organizations carrying out work for the conservation & use of plant genetic resources.
Many countries have endorsed & ratified international agreements developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Food Summit, Agenda 21, The Global Plan of Action for the Conservation & Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture, as well as plans relating to Forestry & Trade. National plans developed as a result of such commitments should take into account relevant issues related to plant genetic resources. Under the CBD, many countries are preparing National Biodiversity Action Plans, & are preparing proposals for funding. Such plans & proposals should include plans for conservation of both cultivated & non-cultivated biodiversity, as well as for their sustainable use involving all stakeholders.
An active National Plant Genetic Resources Committee or Focal Point can help to develop & promote plant genetic resources related planning, & incorporate relevant plant genetic resources issues into government plans & policies.
More information:
International Agreements and Reviews
FAO. 1998. The state of national programmes, training needs and legislation. Pp. 197-232 in The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
N. Nghia, N.D. Khoi, T.D. Long, D.Q. Anh, K.W. Riley, V. Ramanatha Rao and P. Quek. (eds.) 1996. Proceedings of a Workshop on Strengthening the National PGR System in Vietnam, 28-31 March 1995 Hanoi. VASI, Vietnam.
FAO. 1998. Access to plant genetic resources, the sharing of benefits derived from their use and the realization of Farmers’ Rights. Pp. 275-312 in The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.
Example of stakeholder :
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