160
6 Two Country Examples of PGRFA Conservation Systems
the International Undertaking. Two instruments will have to prove their viability:
the introduction of the remuneration rights and the implementation of the National
Community Gene Fund. A crucial point in the future will not be the payment into
the fund, but rather the distribution of the financial resources collected. The
example shown in the German case study indicates a possibility of collecting
financial funds for some protection rights.
6.2
German Case Study'8
Germany can be divided into three main ecological zones; 48% of Germany's total
area (356,958 km 2 ) is classified as agricultural area (CRG, 1996). Parts of the
remaining territory are protected with legally binding effect as protected areas.
Additionally, since the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program (MAB) came into
being biosphere reserves were designated and wetlands of international
importance were placed under the Ramsar Convention.
Germany's natural plant biological diversity is limited. Compared with tropical
regions, the amount of different species is low. With the exception of some
indigenous wild relatives from oats, rape, barley, potato, sugar and fodder beet,
the important agricultural crops grown in Germany are not indigenous to the
German flora. Only some vegetable and fruit species are indigenous to Germany.
The main improving germplasm material for the fruit trees, however, originated in
West Asia.
6.2.1
German System of PGRFA Conservation
In Germany, collection and ex situ conservation of PGRF A was started in the
1920s. The breeding research institutes took the leading role in the initial phase.
From the start, the decentralized structure, which is typical for German research,
was the main characteristic of all conservation efforts. Hence, in the early 1970s,
several German institutes were active in the conservation of PGRF A, for instance:
the MPI for Breeding Research, F AL, IRZ of the BAZ and the Teaching and
Experimental Station for Integrated Plant Cultivation Giiterfelde today's IPK
(CRG, 1996) 79.
It was, however, not before 1986 that the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Forestry (BML) convened a project group to outline a concept for the
conservation and use of plant genetic resources for the Federal Republic of
Germany. The national discussion focussed on the conservation of PGRF A also
because of the generally increasing awareness for the protection and conservation
18 Important information was received through the discussions with the German Secretariat at
IGR during the preparatory process and the German Country Report submitted to FAO.
19 See the abbreviations list for the abbreviations in the text.
6 Two Country Examples of PGRFA Conservation Systems
the International Undertaking. Two instruments will have to prove their viability:
the introduction of the remuneration rights and the implementation of the National
Community Gene Fund. A crucial point in the future will not be the payment into
the fund, but rather the distribution of the financial resources collected. The
example shown in the German case study indicates a possibility of collecting
financial funds for some protection rights.
6.2
German Case Study'8
Germany can be divided into three main ecological zones; 48% of Germany's total
area (356,958 km 2 ) is classified as agricultural area (CRG, 1996). Parts of the
remaining territory are protected with legally binding effect as protected areas.
Additionally, since the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program (MAB) came into
being biosphere reserves were designated and wetlands of international
importance were placed under the Ramsar Convention.
Germany's natural plant biological diversity is limited. Compared with tropical
regions, the amount of different species is low. With the exception of some
indigenous wild relatives from oats, rape, barley, potato, sugar and fodder beet,
the important agricultural crops grown in Germany are not indigenous to the
German flora. Only some vegetable and fruit species are indigenous to Germany.
The main improving germplasm material for the fruit trees, however, originated in
West Asia.
6.2.1
German System of PGRFA Conservation
In Germany, collection and ex situ conservation of PGRF A was started in the
1920s. The breeding research institutes took the leading role in the initial phase.
From the start, the decentralized structure, which is typical for German research,
was the main characteristic of all conservation efforts. Hence, in the early 1970s,
several German institutes were active in the conservation of PGRF A, for instance:
the MPI for Breeding Research, F AL, IRZ of the BAZ and the Teaching and
Experimental Station for Integrated Plant Cultivation Giiterfelde today's IPK
(CRG, 1996) 79.
It was, however, not before 1986 that the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Forestry (BML) convened a project group to outline a concept for the
conservation and use of plant genetic resources for the Federal Republic of
Germany. The national discussion focussed on the conservation of PGRF A also
because of the generally increasing awareness for the protection and conservation
18 Important information was received through the discussions with the German Secretariat at
IGR during the preparatory process and the German Country Report submitted to FAO.
19 See the abbreviations list for the abbreviations in the text.