In-situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives through
informationmanagement and field application
in
Sri Lanka
CWR project is implemented in Sri Lanka by the Department of Agriculture in
collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource, the GEF
focal point in Sri Lanka
What are crop wild relative
Why are crop wild relatives important?
It was N.I. Vavilov, a Russian Botanist who first realized the importance of crop wild relatives in early years 20th century. Genetic material from Crop wild relatives has been utilized by humans for thousands of years to improve the quality and yield of crops. Natural crosses between crops and their wild relatives have occurred since the beginnings of agriculture. Farmers have used traditional breeding methods for millennia, and more recently, plant breeders have utilised crop wild relative genes to improve a wide range of crops like rice (Oryza sativa), and grain legumes
* Based on the information from the European Crop Wild Relative Diversity Assessment and Conservation Forum.
Crop Wild Relatives in Sri Lanka?
What are crop wild relative?
Crop wild relatives (CWR) are plants related to socio-economically important species including food, fodder and forage crops, medicinal plants, condiments, ornamental, and forestry species, as well as plants used for industrial purposes, such as oils and fibres. A formal definition of a crop wild relative can be found at PGR Forum, the European Crop Wild Relative Diversity Assessment and Conservation Forum.
Why are crop wild relatives important?
It was N.I. Vavilov, a Russian Botanist who first realized the importance of crop wild relatives in early years 20th century. Genetic material from Crop wild relatives has been utilized by humans for thousands of years to improve the quality and yield of crops. Natural crosses between crops and their wild relatives have occurred since the beginnings of agriculture. Farmers have used traditional breeding methods for millennia, and more recently, plant breeders have utilised crop wild relative genes to improve a wide range of crops like rice (Oryza sativa), and grain legumes
In addition Crop wild relatives are essential components of natural ecosystems and agricultural eco-systems and hence are indispensable for maintaining ecosystem health. Their conservation and sustainable use is very important for improving agricultural production, increasing food security, and maintaining a healthy environment.
* Based on the information from the European Crop Wild Relative Diversity Assessment and Conservation Forum.
Crop Wild Relatives in Sri Lanka?
Although Sri Lanka is an important centre for crop wild relative diversity our populations of crop wild relatives are under threat due habitat destruction and other human activities. So far very little attention has been paid for conserving and utilizing this important biological resource.
Rice (Oryza)
- Oriza sativa (cultivated species)
- Oryza eichingeri A. Peter
- Oryza nivara Sharma et Shastry
- Oryza rhizomatis Vaughan
- Oryza rufipogon Griff.
- Oryza granulata
Piper
- Piper nigrum L., (cultivated species)
- Piper zeylanicum Miq.,
- Piper walkeri Miq
- Piper hymenophyllum Miq
- Piper sylvestre Lam.,
- Piper trineuron Miq.,
- Piper siriboa L.,
- Piper chuvya (Miq.) C. DC.
- Piper betle L., (cultivated)
- Piper longum L.,
Green Gram/Black Gram etc (Vigna)
- Vigna radiate (cultivated species)
- Vigna aridicola N. Tomooka & Maxted
- Vigna dalzelliana
- Vigna radiata var. sublobata
- Vigna stipulacea
- Vigna trilobata
- Vigna trinervia
Banana (Musa)
- Musa paradisiacal L (cultivated species)
- Musa acuminate Colla.
- Musa balbisiana Colla.
Cinnamomum
- Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cultivated species)
- Cinnamomum dubium Nees
- Cinnamomum ovalifolium Wight
- Cinnamomum litseaefolium Thw.
- Cinnamomum citriodorum Thw.
- Cinnamomum capparu-coronde Blume
- Cinnamomum sinharajaense Kostermans
- Cinnamomumrivulorum Kostermans
- Cinnamomum camphora (L) Presl
Main objective of the project is to enhance the capacity to use information to support conservation and sustainable utilization of CWR in selected five countries and to develop complementary information management system with national and international components. Many stakeholders are involved in the Sri Lankan component of this project.
Project activities will include training of nominated officers from stakeholder institutions on information management, CWR conservation, utilization, ecogeograpic surveys and increasing public awareness on Crop Wild Relatives.
Local Partners
Plant Genetic Resources Center
National Herbarium
Department of Wild Life Conservation
Department of Forest
Biodiversity Secatariat
Central Environment Authority
Bandaranayake Ayurvadic Research Institute
IUCN Sri Lanka
Department of Export Agriculture
Sri Lanka Customs
Human Resource Development Center (NGO)
- Secretary, ME&NR
- Addl. Secretary, ME&NR
- Director General Department of Agriculture
- Deputy Director, PGRC
- Director Royal Botanic Gardens
- Director, Seed Certification and Plant Protection Division, Department of Agriculture
- Mr. Jagath Gunawardane, Attorney at Law, Environment Education Foundation
- Director (Projects), Ministry of Agriculture
- IUCN representative
- UNEP representative
- Conservator General of Forest
- Director General, Department of Wildlife
- Director, Biodiversity Secretariat
- Superintendent of Customs (Biodiversity section)
- Mr. P. Podinilame, Director, Human Resource Development Center
- Director, Department of Export Agriculture
- Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
- Bandaranayake Ayurvedic Research Institute representative
- FAO representative.
- National Project Coordinator
National Database Management Committee
- Ms. Srimathi Dissanayake, (National DBMC Coordinator) Research Officer, PGRC
- Mr. W.D.L Gunarathne, Senior Deputy Director (Research), Department of Export Agriculture
- Mr. Ajith Silva, Deputy Director Biodiversity Secretariat
- Ms. Pathma Abeykoon, Assistant Conservator of Forests (Environmental Management)
- Mr. M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Assistant Director (Planning), Department of Wildlife Conservation
- Mr. Sarath Ekanayake, Senior Program Officer IUCN
- Miss. S. Ranasinghe, National Herbarium
- Mrs. Sudeepa Sugathadasa, Bandaranaike memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute
- Mr. C.B. Rathnayake, Custom Officer, Sri Lanka Customs
- Dr. N.M. Najim, Lecturer, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
- Mr. J.A.R. Gunawardana, Senior Environmental Officer, Central Environment Authority
Technical and Legal Advisory Committee
- Mr. Gamini Gamage (Chairman) Director, Biodiversity Secretariat
- Mr. W.D.L. Gunarathne, Senior Deputy Director, Department of Export Agriculture
- Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens
- Mr. Jagath Gunawardane, Attorney at Law
- Mr. H.D. Rathnayake, Deputy Director, Department of Wildlife Conservation
- Mr. Sarath Ekanayake, IUCN
- Mr. Anura Satharasinghe, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Department of Forest.
- Representative, National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka,
- Dr. D.K.N.G. Pushpakumara, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
- Dr. (Mrs) Ramani Thiranagama, Ayurvedic Research Institute
- W.L.G. Samarasinghe, A.S.U. Liyanage and S.L.D. Jayaweera 2009. Assessment of the Threatened Status of Crop Wild Relatives of Banana, Rice and Vigna in Sri Lanka. Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture 11:121-130
Baseline Study on Public Awareness of Crop Wild Relatives Final Report
Wild relatives of crop plants, which include progenitors of crops as well as other species more or less closely related to them, constitute an increasingly important resource for improving agricultural production and for maintaining sustainable agro-ecosystems. The wise conservation and use of crop wild relatives (CWR) are therefore essential elements for increasing food security, eliminating consumption poverty, and maintaining the environment. The natural populations of many CWR are increasingly at risk. They are threatened by habitat loss through the destruction and degradation of natural environments, deforestation or their conversion to other uses. Examples are wild relatives of fruits, nuts, and industrial crops (e.g. mango, rubber, coffee), cereal crops etc
Status Report on Existing Crop Wild Relatives Data in Sri Lanka
This comprehensive report is on the project on Preparation of a Status Report on Existing Crop Wild Relatives Data in Sri Lanka as per the agreement signed between National Project Coordinator and Dr. Ranjith Premalal De Silva of Geo-Informatics Society of Sri Lanka dated August 31, 2005. The work commenced on September 01, 2005.
Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are taxa related to specie of direct socio economic importance including food crops, medicinal plants, condiments, and plants used for industrial purposes such as oil crops. CWR also includes plants harvested directly from the wild crops and under-utilized species.
Identification of capacity and training needs of Stakeholder Institutions for Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) Information Management, in-situ conservation and use
The UNEP/GEF funded multi- country project In-situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives through enhanced Information Management and Field Application is a five year (2004-2009) project that aims to effectively conserve and use crop wild relatives. It brings together seven international organizations and five countries including Sri Lanka.
Like other partner countries Sri Lanka has a significant number of globally important and threatened crop wild relatives and is also among the worlds hotspot of biodiversity.
Legal Assistance on In-Situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives
The biological resources of the earth have come to be recognised as a resource of vital importance for the survival of humankind. With recognition of the enormous threat to species and ecosystem survival, the conservation and preservation of biological resources of nations have been the focus of international and national efforts.
Baseline Study on Public Awareness of Crop Wild Relatives Final Report
Status Report on Existing Crop Wild Relatives Data in Sri Lanka
Annex ———-
Legal Assistance on In-Situ Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives