154
6 Two Country Examples of PGRFA Conservation Systems
NBPGR activities in the ex situ conservation are supported by its own Regional
Stations Network. These five regional stations are located in different agroclimatic zones (ICR, 1995) and are supplemented by an additional 4 base centers
and some 30 'National Active Germplasm Sites', as crop-based ICAR institutes
(paroda, 1986). These organizations extend the influence and coordination of
NBPGR into the different Indian states and enable NBPGR to meet its obligations
in the different agro-ecological regions of India. Further cooperation exists with
two All-India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPS), which are located at
NBPGR and focus on specific crops.
On the other hand, the Policy Planning and Advisory Committee may be seen
as the main advisory board for PGRF A conservation and management by NBPGR.
It is constituted by the ICAR and provides policy guidelines and oversees the
implementation of the activities (parada, 1996). Furthermore, the Crop Advisory
Committees guide the activities of NBPGR through review and advise for a single
crop or for a group of crops (ICR, 1995).
NBPGR is funded by ICAR. The expenditures for the financial year 1994/95
amount to a total of US $ 2 million (see Table 6.1). This includes the expenditures
directly related to the work ofNBPGR amounting to US $ 1.2 million as well as to
the Indian share in connection with foreign cooperation of US $ 1 million. The
foreign-aided programs at NBPGR are the assistance in strengthening and
upgrading the conservation facilities, joint germplasm explorations, joint research
and training programs on the one side (USAID and Indio-UK project), and two
smaller projects, concentrated on the collection of native diversity and the
strengthening of the All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Programs on the
other hand (the national seed project). The overall total of the Indian domestic
expenditures for the national conservation program amounts to US $ 6.8 million,
which is comparatively high for a developing country (see Chap. 5.2).
In addition to the ex situ conservation activities, there are some ongoing in situ
conservation activities. The Department of Environment and Forests, Govt. of
India is responsible for the implementation of programs related to biodiversity
conservation and for the negotiations of CBD. Hence, the Department of
Environment and Forests is responsible for all in situ conservation activities in
India, in particular the establishment of "Biosphere Reserves". NBPGR assists the
department in the establishment of these projects and, as a member of the national
committee, the Department takes an active role at the national level for the
implementation of CBD (Chandel and Rana, 1995).
NBPGR's documentation system is set up as the National Data Base serving in
all relevant collaborations. The national collaborations are with the Department of
Environment and Forest and with the Department of Biotechnology, Government
of India, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, and with
Botanical Survey of India. The Department of Biotechnology has established the
plant tissue culture facility at NBPGR. lARA's Biotechnology Center is closely
linked to NBPGR by assisting the NPTCR and the National Center on DNA
Fingerprinting and Gene Sequencing. Furthermore, links to various agricultural
universities exist as well as to the crop-based institutes of ICAR. In addition to
this cooperation, NBPGR assists 13 other collaborating institutes and centers in
6 Two Country Examples of PGRFA Conservation Systems
NBPGR activities in the ex situ conservation are supported by its own Regional
Stations Network. These five regional stations are located in different agroclimatic zones (ICR, 1995) and are supplemented by an additional 4 base centers
and some 30 'National Active Germplasm Sites', as crop-based ICAR institutes
(paroda, 1986). These organizations extend the influence and coordination of
NBPGR into the different Indian states and enable NBPGR to meet its obligations
in the different agro-ecological regions of India. Further cooperation exists with
two All-India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPS), which are located at
NBPGR and focus on specific crops.
On the other hand, the Policy Planning and Advisory Committee may be seen
as the main advisory board for PGRF A conservation and management by NBPGR.
It is constituted by the ICAR and provides policy guidelines and oversees the
implementation of the activities (parada, 1996). Furthermore, the Crop Advisory
Committees guide the activities of NBPGR through review and advise for a single
crop or for a group of crops (ICR, 1995).
NBPGR is funded by ICAR. The expenditures for the financial year 1994/95
amount to a total of US $ 2 million (see Table 6.1). This includes the expenditures
directly related to the work ofNBPGR amounting to US $ 1.2 million as well as to
the Indian share in connection with foreign cooperation of US $ 1 million. The
foreign-aided programs at NBPGR are the assistance in strengthening and
upgrading the conservation facilities, joint germplasm explorations, joint research
and training programs on the one side (USAID and Indio-UK project), and two
smaller projects, concentrated on the collection of native diversity and the
strengthening of the All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Programs on the
other hand (the national seed project). The overall total of the Indian domestic
expenditures for the national conservation program amounts to US $ 6.8 million,
which is comparatively high for a developing country (see Chap. 5.2).
In addition to the ex situ conservation activities, there are some ongoing in situ
conservation activities. The Department of Environment and Forests, Govt. of
India is responsible for the implementation of programs related to biodiversity
conservation and for the negotiations of CBD. Hence, the Department of
Environment and Forests is responsible for all in situ conservation activities in
India, in particular the establishment of "Biosphere Reserves". NBPGR assists the
department in the establishment of these projects and, as a member of the national
committee, the Department takes an active role at the national level for the
implementation of CBD (Chandel and Rana, 1995).
NBPGR's documentation system is set up as the National Data Base serving in
all relevant collaborations. The national collaborations are with the Department of
Environment and Forest and with the Department of Biotechnology, Government
of India, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, and with
Botanical Survey of India. The Department of Biotechnology has established the
plant tissue culture facility at NBPGR. lARA's Biotechnology Center is closely
linked to NBPGR by assisting the NPTCR and the National Center on DNA
Fingerprinting and Gene Sequencing. Furthermore, links to various agricultural
universities exist as well as to the crop-based institutes of ICAR. In addition to
this cooperation, NBPGR assists 13 other collaborating institutes and centers in