Sustainable Conservation of Local Plant Varieties | Plant Health Directorate

1. Study and Sustainable Conservation of Varieties Local Plants 20th October, 2015 Plant Health DirectorateThe way forward beyond the projectMr. Sharlo Camilleri Director Plant Health

2. Outline • Who are we • Why involved in plant conservation • Our vision • Key challenges / threats • Opportunities • What’s next

3. Plant Health Directorate The Plant Health Directorate is the Maltese National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), assign to co-ordinate & regulate activities, control the introduction and dispersion of major plant pests and diseases and encouraging the production of good quality and healthy plants. It was established by the PLANT QUARANTINE ACT, 2001 (ACT NO. XVIII OF 2001), Plant Quarantine (Harmful Organisms) Regulations.

4. Our Duties • Implementation of EU Directives, Regulations and Decisions related to plant health, quality of seeds and other plant propagation material • Make import and export arrangements applicable to plants, propagation material, plant pests, plant produce and growing media entering Malta • Carrying out surveys and checks on plant s and seeds • Provide laboratory services and technical support to our stakeholders • Organise information campaigns

5. Our Resources Laboratories: • Plant Health Diagnostic  • In vitro • Seed Testing • Soil and Irrigation water • Glasshouses, Shade houses, Screen houses • Conservation Garden • Media Centre

6. Plant Genetic Resources • Plant genetic resources part of Plant Reproductive Material • To this effect the PHD is also responsible for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and Access to Benefit Sharing of the Nagoya Protocol in relation to Plant Genetic Resources

7. Vision • In the field of plant genetic resources our vision is to be a key stakeholder in the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. • To achieve this we will mobilise, conserve and make available plant genetic resources using the resources and technology established under the project to contribute our share to sustainable development

8. Key Challenges • data on plants, their distribution and the threats that they face • loss of traditional land management and knowledge • loss of high-value species due to non-sustainable use • loss and fragmentation of remaining natural areas • plant conservation skills and infrastructure shortages. • climate change

9. Threats Alien Invaders Introduced intentionally or by accident in an area where they don’t naturally occur can have devastating effects on biodiversity as they outcompete or destroy native species. The introduction and spread of plant pests and diseases among food crops and other plant species has significant consequences on local plants

10. Alien species The Convention on Biological Diversity and its members recognize that there is an urgent need to address the impact of invasive alien species. Article 8(h) of the CBD states that, “Each contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species”.

11. Opportunities Through the knowledge and the resources established under the project, the Plant Health Directorate will be able to engage in plant conservation, including the following activities: • prevent plants from becoming extinct • direct conservation of local plants • collections of plants ex situ • education programmes • control of invasive species • research programmes

12. Looking Ahead The Plant Health Directorate will be implementing the obligations of the ITPGRFA and the Nagoya Protocol – ABS in relation to Plant Genetic Resources

13. ITPGRFA – Article 5 Conservation, Exploration, Collection, Characterization, Evaluation and Documentation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture • Survey and inventory plant genetic resources • Promote the collection of plant genetic resources • Promote or support, as appropriate, farmers and local communities’ • Promote in situ conservation • Ex situ conservation • Monitor the maintenance of the viability, degree of variation, and the genetic integrity of collections of plant genetic resources

14. ITPGRFA – Article 5 Conservation, Exploration, Collection, Characterization, Evaluation and Documentation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture • Populating the GIS based database • Organisation of educational and scientific programmes – media centre, laboratories and botanic garden • Organise informative meetings for stakeholders – conference centre • Ex situ conservation – in vitro techniques, botanic garden • Study the viability, degree of variation, and the genetic integrity of collections of plant genetic resources – seed laboratory

15. ITPGRFA – Article 6 Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources • develop and maintain appropriate policy and legal measures that promote the sustainable use of plant genetic resources • pursuing fair agricultural policies that enhance the sustainable use of agricultural biological diversity • strengthening research which enhances and conserves biological diversity • promoting, as appropriate, the expanded use of local and locally adapted crops, varieties and underutilized species • reviewing, and, as appropriate, adjusting breeding strategies and regulations concerning variety release and seed distribution.

16. ITPGRFA – Article 6 Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources • Will engage in policy development to promote the sustainable use of plant genetic resources • Conduct research which enhances and conserves biological diversity • Promote as appropriatethe use of local and locally adapted crops and varieties • Reviewas appropriate breedingregulations concerning variety release and seed distribution.

17. ITPGRFA – Article 9 Farmers’ Rights Take measures to protect and promote Farmers’ Rights, including: • protection of traditional knowledge • right to equitably participate in sharing benefits • the right to participate in making decisions, at the national level, on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources

18. ITPGRFA – Article 10 / Nagoya - ABS Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing • Malta has sovereign rights over it’s own plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, including the authority to determine access to those resources. • The PHD on behalf of the national governments will prepare and impliment national legislation. • PHD will establish a multilateral system to facilitate access to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and to sharethe benefits arising from the utilization of these resources, on a complementary and mutually reinforcing basis.

19. ITPGRFA – Article 17 The Global Information System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture • Develop and strengthen a global information system to facilitate the exchange of information, based on existing information systems, on scientific, technical and environmental matters related to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. • Plant Health Management System – GIS based national register

20. What’s next ! • Prepare a plan of action • Establish the set up for access to benefit sharing • Explore financing possibilities to establish an inventory of plant genetic resources • In collaboration with MEDE establish educational programmes • Embark on conservation research programmes • Monitor the health status of plants and prevent the entry / spread of alien pests

21. THANK YOU