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Essay on Crop Biodiversity
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Definition of Crop Biodiversity
- Essay on the Conservation of Crop Biodiversity
- Essay on the Loss of Crop Biodiversity
- Essay on the Convention on Biological Diversity
- Essay on the International Bodies Established by the Convention
- Essay on the Benefits of of Crop Biodiversity
Essay # 1. Definition of Crop Biodiversity:
The biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all forms, levels and combinations. The term biodiversity includes genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. In other words, the variety of life forms — the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain and ecosystems they may form are referred to as biodiversity.
It is usually considered at three levels, viz., genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. Crop biodiversity refers to the variety of genes and genotypes found in crop plants. Biodiversity is a modern term which simply means “the variety of life on earth”. This variety of life can be measured in several ways.
Essay # 2. Conservation of Crop Biodiversity:
The loss of biodiversity poses a serious threat to agriculture and the livelihoods of millions of people. Conserving biodiversity and using it wisely is a global necessity. Biodiversity provides the foundation for our agricultural systems. It provides the sources of traits to improve yield, quality, resistance to pests and diseases and adaptation to changing environmental conditions, such as global warming.
The protection of plant diversity is essential for food security and ecological well-being. Biodiversity is also a direct source of food for many people and is an essential part of our life support system. Without biodiversity our ecosystems, the planet’s entire biosphere, cannot function.
Conservation refers to protection of genetic diversity of crop plants from genetic erosion.
There are four main ways of conserving, viz.:
1. On farm conservation,
2. In-situ conservation,
3. Ex-situ conservation and
4. Complementary conservation.
1. Conservation on Farms:
The on farm conservation involves the maintenance of crop species on the farm or in home gardens. The effectiveness of strategies to maintain and use crop or livestock diversity on farms depends on the extent to which local varieties continue to meet the needs of farmers and communities.
Many plant genetic resources, especially those of minor crops, are managed as part of agricultural production systems. This type of biodiversity conservation has been termed ‘conservation through use’.
There are important reasons for supporting on farm maintenance of crop and livestock diversity:
i. It ensures the ongoing processes of evolution and adaptation of crops to their environments.
ii. It allows for the continued selection of superior material by farmers that meets their needs and preferences.
iii. It helps preserve indigenous knowledge, strengthens local institutions and promotes farmers’ participation in national biodiversity conservation programmes.
iv. It provides a necessary backup to gene bank collection.
v. It provides natural laboratories for agricultural research.
The biodiversity of only those species can be maintained on the cultivators’ farms and in home gardens which are more useful to the farmers and rural communities.
2. In-Situ Conservation:
In situ (= on-site) conservation and use refers to the maintenance and use of wild plant populations in the habitats where they naturally occur and have evolved without the help of human beings. In other words, it refers to conservation of biodiversity under natural habitats. In this method, the wild species and the complete ecosystems are preserved together.
The wild populations regenerate naturally, and are dispersed naturally by wild animals, winds and water. There exists an intricate relationship, often interdependence, between the different species end other components of the environment (such as their pests and diseases) in which they occur. The evolution is purely driven by environmental pressures and any changes in one component affect the other. Provided that changes are not too drastic, this dynamic co-evolution leads to greater diversity and better adapted germplasm.
The main focus of Biodiversity’s work is on the maintenance of the genetic diversity of the wild species and wild relatives of crop plants in the protected areas [national parks and nature reserves].
The advantages and disadvantages of this method are presented below:
Advantages:
i. The biodiversity is conserved under natural habitats.
ii. It improves of the populations.
iii. It conserve complete ecosystem means several species together.
iv. It protects endangered species in their original habitats.
Disadvantages:
i. It requires establishment of gene sanctuaries and national parks.
ii. Several areas have to be conserved to protect a single species.
iii. The management of protected areas poses several problems.
iv. It is costly method of biodiversity conservation.
3. Ex-Situ Conservation:
Ex-situ (= off-site) conservation of germplasm takes place outside the natural habitat or outside the production system, in facilities specifically created for this purpose. Depending on the type of species to be conserved, different ex situ conservation methods may be used. The gene banks are used for ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.
In gene banks, biodiversity is conserved for its sustainable use by breeders, farmers and researchers for agricultural development.
To make the genetic resources useful to farmers, breeders and researchers, gene bank managers must carefully document the collected materials, make the information available and establish a transparent and safe system for its distribution. This material should be provided (on demand) to breeders and other researchers for agricultural development.
The advantages and disadvantages of this method are given below:
Advantages:
i. One species can be conserved at one place.
ii. The biodiversity is conserved either in seed gene banks or in field gene banks.
iii. Handling of material is easy.
iv. It requires less space for conservation.
Disadvantages:
i. It requires establishment of seed gene banks and field gene banks.
ii. It requires regular funding for maintenance of gene banks.
iii. It involves high technical man power.
iv. It requires periodical rejuvenation in case of seed crops.
4. Complementary Conservation:
It involves a proper combination of different conservation approaches for the sustainable use [in present and future] of genetic diversity existing in a target gene pool. The main objective of any plant genetic resources (PGR) conservation programme is to maintain the highest possible level of genetic variability present in the gene pool of a given species or crop both in its natural habitat and in a germplasm collection.
A proper combination of different methods depends on the species being conserved, the local infrastructure and human resources, the number of accessions in a given collection, its geographic site and intended use of the conserved germplasm. It does not advocate a particular method. A good complementary conservation strategy does not categorize crops or species into definitive classes. It is dynamic, and lends itself to meet the challenges of changes that are occurring in the field of genetic resources as it is open to new technologies and new needs.
Essay # 3. Loss of Crop Biodiversity:
There are two main reasons of depletion of biodiversity in crop plants, viz., extinction and genetic erosion. Extinction refers to permanent loss of a crop species due to various reasons. Genetic erosion refers to the gradual reduction in genetic variability, in population of a species, due to elimination of various genotypes.
There are five main reasons of genetic erosion, viz.:
(i) Replacement of land races by modern cultivars,
(ii) Industrial agriculture,
(iii) Farming into wild habitat,
(iv) Clean cultivation, and
(v) Developmental activities.
Essay # 4. Convention on Biological Diversity [CBD]:
The Convention on Biological Diversity is also known as the Biodiversity Convention. It is an international treaty that was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. The biodiversity agreement has been signed by 189 countries.
The Convention has following three main goals:
1. Conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity).
2. Sustainable use of its components; and
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
1. Conservation of Biodiversity:
The convention recognized for the first time in international law that the conservation of biological diversity is “a common concern of humankind” and is an integral part of the development process. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
While past conservation efforts were aimed at protecting particular species and habitats, the Convention recognizes that ecosystems, species and genes must be used for the benefit of humans. However, this should be done in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity.
The convention also offers decision-makers guidance based on the precautionary principle that where there is a threat of significant reduction of loss of biological diversity, immediate measures must be taken to avoid or minimize such a threat. The Convention acknowledges that substantial investments are required to conserve biological diversity. It argues, however, that conservation will bring us significant environmental, economic and social benefits in return.
2. Sustainable Use:
The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. It links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably. The convention reminds decision-makers that natural resources are not infinite and sets out a philosophy of sustainable use.
3. Equitable Benefit Sharing:
It sets principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, notably those destined for commercial use.
It also covers the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology through its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, addressing technology development and transfer, benefit-sharing and biosafety issues. Importantly, the Convention is legally binding; countries that join it (‘Parties’) are obliged to implement its provisions.
Some of the many issues dealt with under the convention include:
i. Measures and incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
ii. Regulated access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge, including prior informed consent of the party providing resources.
iii. Sharing, in a fair and equitable way, the results of research and development and the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources with the contracting party providing such resources (governments and/or local communities that provided the traditional knowledge or biodiversity resources utilized).
iv. Access to and transfer of technology, including biotechnology, to the governments and/or local communities that provided traditional knowledge and/or biodiversity resources.
v. Technical and scientific cooperation.
vi. Impact assessment.
vii. Education and public awareness.
viii. Provision of financial resources.
ix. National reporting on efforts to implement treaty commitments.
Essay # 5. International Bodies Established by the Convention:
The convention’s governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP), consisting of all governments (and regional economic integration organizations) that have ratified the treaty.
The main functions of COP are to:
i. Review progress under the Convention,
ii. Identifies new priorities,
iii. Sets work plans for members,
iv. Make amendments to the Convention,
v. Create expert advisory bodies,
vi. Review progress reports by member nations, and
vii. Collaborate with other international organizations and agreements.
The Conference of the Parties uses expertise and support from several other bodies that are established by the Convention.
In addition to committees or mechanisms established on an ad hoc basis, two main organs are Secretariat and SBSTTA which are discussed below:
1. Secretariat:
The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal [Canada]. It operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.
The main functions of the secretariat are to:
i. Organize meetings,
ii. Draft documents,
iii. Assist member governments in the implementation of the programme of work,
iv. Coordinate with other international organizations, and
v. Collect and disseminate information.
2. SBSTTA:
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). The SBSTTA is a committee composed of experts from member governments competent in relevant fields. It plays a key role in making recommendations to the COP on scientific and technical issues. Thirteenth Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-13) held from 18 to 22 February 2008 in the FAO at Rome, Italy.
Individual Country Implementation:
Several of the signatory countries have established Biodiversity Action Plans to implement the outcome of the convention. For example, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Tanzania have carried out elaborate responses to conserve individual species and specific habitats. The United States of America, a signatory who has not yet ratified the treaty, has produced one of the most thorough implementation programs through species Recovery Programs and other mechanisms for species conservation.
Essay # 6. Benefits of of Crop Biodiversity:
There are several benefits of crop biodiversity. Some important benefits of crop biodiversity are briefly presented as follows.
The crop biodiversity provides:
i. Protection from biotic stresses such as diseases and insects.
ii. Protection from abiotic stresses such as drought, soil salinity, soil alkalinity, soil acidity, cold temperature, heat etc.
iii. Choice of quality for food and other items.
iv. Choice of items for food, fibre, oil, fuel, fodder to animals, timber and medicines.
v. Wider adaptation to environmental changes.
vi. Broad genetic base to the populations.
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