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More about the Specialist Group

The CWRSG is a structured and coordinated network of experts in the field of crop wild relative conservation and use. It aims to (i) open and maintain the necessary communication channels to share information and experiences, (ii) provide the SSC and other bodies with relevant contacts as required, and (iii) encourage a more strategic approach to crop wild relative conservation (and through conservation, a link to enhanced utilization).

Its vision is: 'the effective conservation and use of crop wild relatives and their increased availability for crop improvement, for the benefit of the environment and human society worldwide'.

Specialist Group work

The CWRSG focuses on documenting and disseminating information on CWR, promoting their conservation and use, providing expertise to their conservation and use, and increasing awareness of the importance of CWR amongst governments, institutions, decision-makers and the general public.

Featured projects

• Bridging agriculture and environment: Southern Africa crop wild relative regional network (SADC CWR Network) (2019-2022)

The Southern African region is rich in crop wild relatives with over 1,900 species related to crops that are cultivated for food, beverages, ornamental, forage/fodder, forestry, medicinal, environmental and other uses. The availability and use of these CWR species are fundamental to the food security and lives for 130 million poor people in the region. Yet these CWR are poorly conserved, are threatened and barely accessible to breeders and farmers for their use. This three-year project is a collaborative endeavour to tackle these issues and enhance the conservation of CWR, both in their wild habitats in southern Africa and representation in gene banks, thus facilitating their use. Main project deliverables included: (i) the establishment of a regional network for the in situ conservation of crop wild relatives in southern Africa; (ii) the identification of priority crop wild relatives for conservation, of priority sites for active in situ conservation and to develop National Strategic Action Plans for conservation of crop wild relatives in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia; (iii) to design mechanisms to enhance the benefits to farmers from conserving CWR; (iv) Access and Benefit Sharing mechanisms for increased access to CWR germplasm (Nagoya Protocol and International Treaty on PGRFA); and (v) to build gendered capacity in southern Africa on in situ conservation and use of CWR ().

• Farmer’s Pride: Conserving plant diversity for future generations (2018-2021)

The Farmer’s Pride project brought together key actors from across Europe to create a permanent network for in situ conservation of plant genetic resources, including crop wild relatives, throughout the region. It built on existing mechanisms, such as Europe’s protected area system, seed banks and numerous stakeholder organizations, to establish networks of sites and custodians of plant genetic resources, as well as the governance structures needed to ensure effective functioning and longevity.

Main objectives of this project were: (i) to contribute to the establishment of the European network for in situ conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources; (ii) to promote best practices in in situ and on-farm conservation and management; (iii) to enhance the use of plant genetic resources conserved in situ; and (iv) to influence the policy environment for plant genetic resources conservation and sustainable use ().