Political, legislative and practical aspects of in situ conservation in Germany

1. Political, legislative and practical aspects of in situ conservation in Germany in the context of genetic erosion L. Frese

2. Introduction The main difficulties of in situ conservation of plant genetic resources are non-biological. In situ conservation is a complex process, involving political, legal, economic, and social factors, superimposed on ecological and genetic processes (Jana, 1999).

3. Political and legislative aspects • International agreements (CBD, Treaty) • National framework program for genetic resources • National Expert Programs for Genetic Resources • Refer to international agreements, EU regulations and national laws but are in itself not legally binding • Expert programs express the political will

4. Political and legislative aspects Framework program for genetic resources Expert programs Micro-organisms Forestry Crops Animals Fishes Standing committees State working and co-ordination group Consul-tation and Co-ordination committee Working group Working group Working group • Expert group ISM/OFM • Expert group ECP/GR

5. Political and legislative aspects • A specific German law for PGR does not exist • EU Agenda 2000 • Concil regulation 2078/92 (later 1257/99) • Plants adapted to local condition / threatened by genetic erosion • High transaction costs at the states level, small biological effects • Positive assessment of council regulation 2078/92 by DG VI • Sceptical assessment of council regulation 2078/92 by landscape planners/ nature conservationists • National regulation based on 1257/99 was rejected by the states

6. Political and legislative aspects • German Federal Nature Protection Law (BNatSchG) • Forces states to implement: • Natura 2000 • Flora-Fauna-Habitat regulation 92/43/EWG (FFH) • Biosphere reserves (legally binding since 1998) • Concurrent legislation (soil, water, waste, noise) • Framework legislation (nature, landscape, water)

7. Political and legislative aspects • National Expert Programs for Plant Genetic Resources • Recording and inventory of PGR • Promotion of in situ maintenance of CWR and wild plants relevant for nutrition • “Input in kind” from the core funding of a broad range of institutions is the basic idea • Support is hopefully provided by a national regulation for genetic resources. Likely budget: 5 and 7 million € in 2005 / 2006

8. Practical aspects • Inventory of PGR has highest priority. Backbone of all planned actions. Wide definition for PGR was chosen. • Data sources: Literature but in particular www.flora web.de (biological and distribution data, threat status) • Received 14,000,000 data recorded by approx. 3000 volunteers since 1990 • Relevant for in situ management aspects is the forthcoming BIOPOP database (ecological and life history traits). Currently 4722 plant species, 60 traits

9. Practical aspects • Areas suited for in situ conservation • Biosphere reserves (BNatSchG §25) • Nature parks (BNatSchG §27) • Legally protected habitats (BNatSchG §30) • Natura 2000 (BNatSchG §32) • FFH (BNatSchG §33) • Habitat network (BNatSchG §3) – 10% of the state’s area

10. Practical aspects

11. Practical aspects • Protected habitat network

12. Practical aspects • Development of national in situ management concepts • Numerous species on the PGR list • General approach – phytobiodiversity hot spots • Specific action – species based approach • Framework plan for in situ management (see Tan & Tan, 2002)

13. Practical aspects • Nature regions in former East Germany 892 nature regions exist in Germany Approximately 1000 PGR species Species distribution pattern is formed by nature regions Habitat protection protects species J. Hoffmann, FAL Braunschweig, J. Kiesel, ZALF Müncheberg, 2003

14. Practical aspects Genetic erosion Species density Left: Distribution of Nigella arvensis before 1950, black dots = new records, red dots=lost populations, red areas=withdraw areas Right: Dark green areas=high species density. Blue circles=areas potentially suited for in situ management of N. arvensis Distribution of Nigella arvensis J. Hoffmann, FAL Braunschweig, J. Kiesel, ZALF Müncheberg, 2003

15. Practical aspects • Model species

16. Practical aspects • Model species • Suggestions discussed following criteria for target taxon selection of Maxted and Hawkes (1997) • Highest priority: Vitis sylvestris – Malus sylvestris • Controverse debate on Lolium perenne. Abundant and widely distributed but: genetic pollution ? • A case for an important peripheral distribution area: Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima ?

17. Practical aspects • Model species Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima Natura 2000 Driessen (2003)

18. Practical aspects Model species Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima Extention of the Natura 2000 area is a political decision taken by the Cabinet of the government of Schleswig-Holstein based on the BNatSchG and the states own legislation and after involvement of the local communities

19. Conclusions • Positive political development promoted by • EU laws • BNatSchG is probably more effective than agricultural environmental measures • A specific law for PGR does not exist

20. Conclusions • Data, knowledge, tools, facilities and capacities must be combined and integrated • Lack of implementation due to divided responsibilities at all levels • National master plan for in situ management needs to be developed

21. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Federal Office of Nature Protection (BfN) Dr. R.May, Dr. K. Reiter State Office of Ecology, Lower Saxony State Office for Nature and Environment, Schleswig-Holstein Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) Dr. J. Hoffmann Leipzig-Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research (ZALF) Dr. J. Kiesel Members of the BAZ working group on PGR Dr. E. Maul, Dr. M. Höfer, Dr. S.Roux, Dr. H.Lellbach