Genetic diversity is the key to crop improvement and food security. There are more than 1500 gene banks around the world, and genetic resources are maintained in nature reserves and on farms. Genetic diversity serves as the starting point for breeding crops with improved nutritional quality, higher yields, and better tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. However, genetic diversity also provides opportunities for diversifying farm and food systems. Utilization depends on access to material and information. However, many gene banks experience backlogs in characterization, evaluation, regeneration, viability tests, plant health monitoring, and information sharing. This research topic focuses on advances in plant genetic resource conservation and utilization.

Over the past decade the importance of natural resources for sustainable agricultural development has been increasingly discussed at international forums and conferences. Aside from the sustainable management of soil, water, and air, it now seems to be accepted that the sustainable management of genetic resources is one of the four indispensable preconditions for a sustainable agriculture. The discussion on conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), however, has to reflect the costs of conservation as well. These have not yet been discussed intensively. The study analyzes the conservation costs of plant genetic resources; it also assesses the effectiveness of conservation and the efficiency of the different conservation instruments. It is based on extensive surveys in relevant countries. Following the detailed cost and impact analysis, the results show that the effectiveness of conservation strategies may be increased.

This anchor volume to the series Managing Global Genetic Resources examines the structure that underlies efforts to preserve genetic material, including the worldwide network of genetic collections; the role of biotechnology; and a host of issues that surround management and use. Among the topics explored are in situ versus ex situ conservation, management of very large collections of genetic material, problems of quarantine, the controversy over ownership or copyright of genetic material, and more.

This collection starts by reviewing key issues such as valuing, identifying and monitoring plant genetic diversity. The book goes on to assess advances in in-situ and on-farm strategies for protecting crop wild relatives and landraces. Chapters cover topics such as local strategies for preserving crop genetic resources, in-situ management of wild plant populations, monitoring genetic diversity and collecting wild varieties. The book also discusses community-based conservation strategies, participatory plant breeding programmes and seed systems to ensure farmer access to improved varieties. Part 4 reviews key challenges facing ex-situ collections such as genebanks, including improved storage and conservation techniques. Parts 5 and 6 assesses improvements in characterising and evaluating plant genetic resources such as DNA-based screening and phenotyping, as well as ways of improving the quality and exchange of information and germplasm for use in breeding improved varieties.

The book reflects the work in progress regarding the analysis of the costs of crop genetic resources conservation that has been conducted at various research insti tutes over the last couple of years, including research conducted at ZEF and asso ciated institutes. In addition, contributions in this publication were presented at a special session during the "Global Dialogue: The Role of the Village in the 2]'1 Century: Crops, Jobs and Livelihood" in Hannover, Germany, at the World Exposition in Au gust 2000. The purpose of the publication is to make a general contribution to the ongoing discussion about the conservation of crop genetic resources as part of the global strategy to secure increasing food production in a sustainable way. Specifically, it discusses the costs of the worldwide efforts to conserve crop genetic resources on the basis of theoretical and applied studies. It aims to serve decision-makers at dif ferent levels with information on the costs involved in the conservation of genetic resources and hence to increase the awareness of the importance of improving the cost effectiveness of different conservation methods in order to optimize the sus tainability of conservation. The quoted Leipzig Declaration, which was adopted at the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources in Leipzig in June 1996, dem onstrates the close linkage of the contributions to the ongoing discussion about the implementation of the Global Plan of Actionfor the Conservation and Sustainable Utili zation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

This paper argues that a comprehensive Multilateral System for plant genetic resouce for food and agriculture is required which ensures the conservation of plant genetic resources and their utilization form human benefit at a global level. Such a system would incorporate agreements on access to plant genetic resources which ensured their availability; mechanisms for the sharing of benefits derived from plant genetic resources; conservation networks and information systems, and research and plant breeding capacity which meets the needs of farmers worldwide. Such a system should be developed with the full participation of all groups involved in teh management genetic resources.

The papers included in this Special Issue address a variety of important aspects of plant biodiversity and genetic resources, including definitions, descriptions, and illustrations of different components and their value for food and nutrition security, breeding, and environmental services. Furthermore, comprehensive information is provided regarding conservation approaches and techniques for plant genetic resources, policy aspects, and results of biological, genetic, morphological, economic, social, and breeding-related research activities. The complexity and vulnerability of (plant) biodiversity and its inherent genetic resources, as an integral part of the contextual ecosystem and the human web of life, are clearly demonstrated in this Special Issue, and for several encountered problems and constraints, possible approaches or solutions are presented to overcome these.

This edited book deals with plant genetic resources and their status, availability, and ecological niche in natural habitat. Usage and conservation practices followed by various tribal communities and their rationale are also discussed in the book. The book explores application of biological tools to conserve plant species and optimization protocols for conservation and elicitation of secondary metabolites and other value addition products. The book is organized into sub-themes covering: (i) Ecological status of plant genetic resources (ii) Traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and conservation practices (iii) Ex-situ conservation practices and bioprospecting Globally, plant genetic resources are deeply rooted in culture and economy. Since the early 1990s, the changing socio-economic situation has increasingly put pressure on plant genetic resources, in some cases leading to a severe loss of their diversity. For this reason, most vulnerable areas at risk of genetic erosion have been demarcated and protected by forest laws and regulations. Therefore, this book brings to light the opinions of leading experts in the area of ecology, conservation biodiversity, ethanobotany, and bioprospecting of plant genetic resources. The book is for use by graduate and advanced undergraduate students and researchers in plant physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and agriculture. Additionally, it is extremely useful as a general reference on conservation of flora and large-scale cultivation.