1.3 Research Questions and Approach 9
1.3.2
Approach and Data Sources
The discussion of these research questions will be divided into two steps:
In a first step, it is necessary to identify the PGRFA conservation objectives,
the service needs for the genetic resources utilization and the institutional
framework of conservation and transaction of genetic resources. A review of the
literature as well as cooperation in the preparation process for the "International
Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources" in Leipzig, 1996, organized by
FAO, were the main sources of the general and specific information needed. A
major source of information used here are the Country Reports, submitted by 154
countries in the preparation process for the conference.
The second step is to identify and collect data on the costs of the different
conservation strategies and the institutional framework. In view of the inherent
difficulties and limitations in compiling cost data on PGRFA conservation, the
purpose and scope of the data collection were to obtain orders of magnitude of the
current efforts made by the involved organizations and various other funding
sources:
• Expenditures of funding and executing agencies active in conservation and
utilization of PGRFA were calculated by gathering information from personal
communications and documents. The information received represents most of
international agencies; information was, however, not available for some
international agencies, predominantly non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• As of May 1996, 43 countries' focal points from 154 countries surveyed had
replied to a questionnaire requesting financial information about national
conservation activities. Among those responding were countries thought to
have substantial programs in PGRFA (inter alia, the USA, France, Germany,
Russian Federation, UK, Japan, China, India, Brazil, and Ethiopia), as well as a
number of countries with smaller programs. Because of lacking information
from governments and international institutions, expenditures for 1995 could
not be calculated precisely. The national and international data were estimated
based on the available information in order to obtain an order-of-magnitude
estimate of total expenditures.
• Personal visits to and cooperation with selected genebanks enabled the
calculation of the costs of genebanks in various environments.
• The costs of conservation activities were extracted from relevant case studies in
the literature or were calculated based on expert judgements on its components.
1.4
Study Overview
Chapter 2 analyzes the state and dynamics of biodiversity generally and those of
agrobiodiversity specifically. The development and extent of genetic losses are
discussed, whereby critical analysis of the literature and methodologies of
recording of genetic losses is necessary. In addition, the causes and determinants
of the loss of plant genetic resources are analyzed. The main characteristics of
1.3.2
Approach and Data Sources
The discussion of these research questions will be divided into two steps:
In a first step, it is necessary to identify the PGRFA conservation objectives,
the service needs for the genetic resources utilization and the institutional
framework of conservation and transaction of genetic resources. A review of the
literature as well as cooperation in the preparation process for the "International
Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources" in Leipzig, 1996, organized by
FAO, were the main sources of the general and specific information needed. A
major source of information used here are the Country Reports, submitted by 154
countries in the preparation process for the conference.
The second step is to identify and collect data on the costs of the different
conservation strategies and the institutional framework. In view of the inherent
difficulties and limitations in compiling cost data on PGRFA conservation, the
purpose and scope of the data collection were to obtain orders of magnitude of the
current efforts made by the involved organizations and various other funding
sources:
• Expenditures of funding and executing agencies active in conservation and
utilization of PGRFA were calculated by gathering information from personal
communications and documents. The information received represents most of
international agencies; information was, however, not available for some
international agencies, predominantly non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• As of May 1996, 43 countries' focal points from 154 countries surveyed had
replied to a questionnaire requesting financial information about national
conservation activities. Among those responding were countries thought to
have substantial programs in PGRFA (inter alia, the USA, France, Germany,
Russian Federation, UK, Japan, China, India, Brazil, and Ethiopia), as well as a
number of countries with smaller programs. Because of lacking information
from governments and international institutions, expenditures for 1995 could
not be calculated precisely. The national and international data were estimated
based on the available information in order to obtain an order-of-magnitude
estimate of total expenditures.
• Personal visits to and cooperation with selected genebanks enabled the
calculation of the costs of genebanks in various environments.
• The costs of conservation activities were extracted from relevant case studies in
the literature or were calculated based on expert judgements on its components.
1.4
Study Overview
Chapter 2 analyzes the state and dynamics of biodiversity generally and those of
agrobiodiversity specifically. The development and extent of genetic losses are
discussed, whereby critical analysis of the literature and methodologies of
recording of genetic losses is necessary. In addition, the causes and determinants
of the loss of plant genetic resources are analyzed. The main characteristics of