Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) Girma Balcha (Ph.D.) Director General

1. Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) Girma Balcha (Ph.D.)Director General 3 November 2007

2. Ethiopia, Centre of Origin and/or diversity of species due to wide range of agroclimatic conditions This was evidenced by Nickolai I. Vavilov in 1927 Cultivars or Farmers varieties Crop wild relatives Domestic animals Wild plants, animals and microbial genetic resources

3. Conference in Beltsville, 1972, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) recommended formation of PGRC Ethiopia was given highest priority to establish PGRC In 1973, Ethiopia requested Germany for feasibility study In 1994, feasibility study was undertaken by German Ministry of Economic Cooperation In 1976 PGRC was established, bilateral agreement was signed between Ethiopia and Germany GTZ was assigned from the German side and a Director was assigned from the Ethiopian side

4. Objectives of PGRC/E To promote the collection, evaluation, documentation and scientific study of crop germplasm in Ethiopia, East Africa and adjacent regions; To preserve germplasm on the base of long-term storage; To Provide germplams for breeding programmes aimed at the development of such characters as higher yield, better quality, disease and pest resistance;

5. In 1989 UNEP established a Group of Expert to draft biodiversity document. That paved the way to the birth of the Convention on Biological Diversity at Rio de Janeiro Conference in 1992. Ethiopia had, therefore, promoted PGRCE to the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) in 1994. Then, the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation caters for plants, animals and microbial genetic resources.

6. Mandate of IBC • Conservation of Genetic Resources and associated Traditional Knowledge • Sustainable use of Genetic Resources • Fair and equitable share of benefits accrued from commercial use of Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge • Conservation research

7. Structure of IBC • Director General • Deputy Director General • 10 Technical Departments • 2 Technical Services • 5 Supportive Services • 212 staff members

8. Departments and Services • Crop Genetic Resources • Horticulture Genetic Resources • Forest and Aquatic Plant Genetic Resources • Medicinal Plant Genetic Resources • Forage and Pasture Genetic Resources • Animal Genetic Resources • Microbial Genetic Resources • Ethnobiology • Ecosystem • Biotechnology • Genebank and Herbarium Service • Information and Documentation Service • Other Supportive Services

9. Main Activities Collection • Ex-situ conservation ◦ Cold storage -10 ºC, + 4 ºC • 60585 accessions (about 210 species) - 56019 Field crops - 4566 (Horticultural, Forage, Forestry and Medicinal plants) - 650 (Microbial spp. at -80 ºc)

10. ◦Field Genebank ◦ 8936 accessions of Horticulture (13 species, two Field genebanks) ◦ 24 Forestry species ◦ 568 accessions of Medicinal plants (two Field genebanks) ◦ 159 accessions of Forage and Pasture (about 22 spp.) • In-situ Conservation ◦ 4 species of Forest ◦ 337 species of Medicinal plants (24 spp. endemic to Ethiopia) ◦ Community based in-situ ◦ 400 farmers’ var. of about 22 Field Crops (12 Community Genebanks) 10

11. Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge • Indigenous Knowledge on farmers’ varieties from: • Bale • North Shewa • Kefa • Illubabor • Jima • East shewa • Indigenous Knowledge of wild plant spp from: • Derashe and Kucha districts • Loma bosa districts, Dawro zone

12. Characterization ◦ 43367 accessions - Morphological (17 crops) ◦ 4700 Biochemical (Proximate analysis) Protein, fat, mineral and fiber) of 15 crops ◦ Molecular and Cytogenetic to be done in the near future

13. Distribution of Germplasm • Local Institutions ◦ 69272 Seed Samples of Field Crops ◦ 1707 Seed Samples of Horticultural Crops ◦ 5855 Others (Medicinal, Forage and Forestry) • International Institutions ◦ 12463 Samples of Field Crops

14. Other Conservation related activities ◦Database Development -National Forest Area for Species Conservation status assessment -National database on Medicinal Plants ◦Inventory of Genetic resources -36 Forest Areas ◦National Reports -Forage and Pasture Genetic Resources -Domestic Animal Genetic Resources -Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (to FAO)

15. Legal IssuesRatified/Adopted Agreements • Convention on Biological Diversity (Pro. No. 98/1994) • International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Pro. No. 330/2003) • Accession to IPGRI (Bioversity International (19 May 2006) • Accession to Donor’s Council

16. International Activities • Convention on Biological Diversity • Negotiation on access and benefit-sharing • Negotiation on Article 8(j)-Traditonal knowledge associated with genetic resources

17. Conservation Programme of Work • Forest biodiversity • Mountain biodiversity • Agrobiodviersity • Ecosystem approach • Traditional sites and lands occupied by traditional waters • Animal biodiversity • etc. • International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture • Crop Diversity Trust

18. Limitations • Duplicate Genebank decided to be established • Capacity building for Molecular characterization is on plan • Research on storage behaviour on plan • In vitro and Cryopreservation on plan

19. THANK YOU