1. In reviewing the past, the Expert Consultation noted the definitions used by FAO which are repeated in Appendix 1. The Expert Consultation noted the recommendations of the FAO Expert Consultation on Animal Genetic Resources in September 1989 in Rome, Italy, particularly recommendations numbered 4, 5 and 9 in the Institutional, Legal and Financial section which stated, inter alia:
para 4 “that governments should establish as a matter of urgency an appropriate national infrastructure for animal genetic resources.”
para 5 “that regional cooperation among countries be established to facilitate effective action. The cooperating countries should aim at developing self-sustaining regional organizational structures with the support from member governments.”
para 9 “that the FAO programme has a sound technical base, is organized effectively and should be expanded and further developed into a global programme.”
2. The Expert Consultation noted the recommendation of the 98th Session of the Council
of FAO, meeting in Rome, Italy on 19–30 November 1990, which stated, inter alia:
“that FAO prepare a detailed programme for sustainable development of animal
genetic resources on a global level for consideration by the next session of the
Committee on Agriculture, …that the programme include projects for interested
countries and regions to be implemented by their respective governments and should
be financed primarily in the form of trust fund projects, …that donor countries as
well as international and regional banks assign due priority to sustainable development
of animal genetic resources, and …that proposals for the development of an
appropriate legal framework for the conservation and rational use of animal genetic
resources be referred to the next session of the Committee on Agriculture”.
3. The Expert Consultation noted and approved the continued activities of the FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the conservation of animal genetic resources, particularly including the FAO's cooperation with UNEP in the negotiations for an International Convention on Biological Diversity; in preparation for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development; and in the FAO's collaboration with a variety of other international organizations in these fields.
4. The Expert Consultation strongly recommended that the FAO, as a matter of urgency, accelerate the design, preparation, search for funding and implementation of a detailed global action plan for the sustainable development and management of animal genetic resources, noting that this programme would assist in the maintenance of biological diversity and development of sustainability of agriculture, emphasizing that this programme be designed in a fashion that contributes to both the near-term production needs and the long-term conservation needs of the farmers of the developing world, and emphasizing that this programme should combine the conservation of traditional breeds, the preservation of a variety of genetic material, and breed improvement.
5. The Expert Consultation noted the important role of the FAO and other organizations in encouraging training and technology transfer and in fostering the research and development capabilities of developing countries for the conservation of animal genetic resources and recommended that the FAO give extremely high priority to such activities.
6. The Expert Consultation recognized the urgent and critical need for leadership to coordinate, foster, and organize broad-based national, regional, and international activities to preserve, conserve, manage, and use animal genetic resources. To this end, it recommended designation and establishment of a clearly defined management entity to promote consultation and contractual processes; to coordinate activities at the national, regional, and international levels; and to secure necessary funding.
7. At its outset, the management entity should develop close consultation processes with inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, including U.N. bodies, conservation groups, international and national agricultural research centres and universities concerned with the management of animal genetic resources. It should be able to enter into contractual agreements with appropriate scientific and technical institutions or other organizations to accomplish activities relevant to the conservation, management and use of animal genetic resources.
8. The institution designated to provide the management entity should prepare an action plan with clearly defined scientific methods, goals, a funding plan, and expected national and international benefits. This action plan should emphasize the consultation processes and contractual relationships necessary to execute the progamme. It should make specific proposals for an accountable system which should be transparent. The action plan should recognize as essential the task of creating greater public awareness of the conservation of animal genetic resources; of the need for urgent action; and of the benefits of such practices.
9. The Expert consultation envisaged a progressive programme in animal genetic resources, the first action being designation of the institution responsible for providing the management entity and for developing an action plan. This should include organizing a secretariat, developing a funding mechanism, and designing appropriate technical support groups. In the future, when experience has been gained in operating a global programme for animal genetic resources, the appropriateness of establishing an intergovernmental commission could be considered and, ultimately, a new institution could evolve.
10. The Expert Consultation recommended that the management entity should be accountable for technical and operational programmes to a consultative council comprising representatives of organizations, associations and institutions with interests in the management, conservation, and use of animal genetic resources and of those providing financial support to the programme. This consultative council should be responsible for technical review and oversight of the activities of the management entity and, as such, the membership should include several scientists acquainted with relevant fields; such as, genetics, breeding, conservation technologies, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. The consultative council should meet no less than twice yearly for review and oversight of the activities of the animal genetic resources programmes and for reporting to the donors.
11. The Expert Consultation recommended that at an early stage the established programme should, through its consultative council, consider with scientific, technical, and legal advice the development of an appropriate legal framework for animal genetic resources activities, taking into consideration relevant agreements in the field, such as the Global Convention on Biological Diversity currently being negotiated.
12. In the absence of a legal framework, the Expert Consultation recommended that ownership and access rights of any genetic materials collected and maintained by the programme should be determined by the parties concerned before materials are collected.
13. The Expert Consultation proposed that the Executive Secretary of the management entity should be a senior animal scientist, who is operationally involved in the management of the animal genetic resources global programme. The individual should have experience with and understanding of the scientific and technical issues relevant to the conservation, management, and use of animal genetic resources.
14. The Expert Consultation recommended that the management entity should promote and encourage the formation of national and, where appropriate, regional programmes. National programmes should, at a minimum, monitor the status of indigenous livestock populations and develop plans for conservation at the national or regional level, as needed. Existing regional centres could accommodate new regional programmes. Where resources and needs require, national programmes could encompass a greater range of activities, including but not limited to cryogenic banks, conservation programmes, or in situ management. However, regional centres, such as the EAAP/FAO Animal Genetic Data Bank can provide important economies of scale even for large programmes.
15. The Expert Consultation considered that the programme must be fully aware of relevant animal health issues. It should, in close consultation with Office International des Epizooties (OIE), participate in negotiations toward appropriate regional or global quarantine procedures to permit the safe collection, movement, storage and subsequent use of animal germplasm among different countries. These points are particularly important should there be regional gene banks.
16. In consideration of the history of activities relevant to the conservation and management of animal genetic resources, and the need to begin a global effort in an efficient and timely manner, the Expert Consultation recommended that the FAO be designated as the institution to provide the management entity.
17. The Expert Consultation recognized that, following considerable debate and discussion, the 1989 FAO Expert Consultation on Animal Genetic Resources had recommended that the global animal genetic resources programme be organized independently of plant genetic resources activities. This recommendation was subsequently accepted by the FAO Council. Because the issues, technical expertise, and methodologies for conserving, managing, and using animal germplasm differ from those for plants, this Expert Consultation also recommended that the animal programme be organized separately from the plant programme. In the future, if appropriate, merging of one or more elements of the animal and plant programmes may be considered.
18. The Expert Consultation recognized that the monitoring of Animal Genetic Resources must be considered of utmost importance as the basis for any long-term conservation strategy. This task needs full consideration at national as well as international level.
19. Recognizing the importance of documenting any breed at risk, the Expert Consultation welcomed the ongoing, excellent work on design and establishment of the Global Information Network for Animal Genetic Resources and the close cooperation in this endeavour with the EAAP/FAO Animal Genetic Data Bank in Hannover.
20. The Expert Consultation recommended further efforts to set up national/regional data banks as soon as possible to aid the gathering of crucial information about population numbers and important breed characteristics. This information needs to be regularly updated to support the regular publication of the World Watch List of Threatened Breeds and to serve as a tool to detect any changes in levels of endangerment thus allowing timely and appropriate action. The information stored in the Global Information Network for Animal Genetic Resources should be made available to all interested parties.
21. The Expert Consultation recommended uniformity of information type, including the simple form of questionnaire and the standard descriptors for the most pertinent information, which are already being used by FAO, by the EAAP/FAO data bank, and by some national data banks; this uniformity will facilitate the capture of information of maximum value. More detailed questionnaires could be used at later stages. Surveys to monitor population numbers should be made more frequently than efforts to collect breed characterization information. Species with higher reproductive rates and shorter generation intervals should be surveyed most often.
22. Recognizing the existence of some species-specific national or sub-regional data banks, and of the Hannover and FAO data banks, the Expert Consultation recommended that a comprehensive Global Information Network for Animal Genetic Resources be fully established with appropriate links to the existing banks and to the regional data banks which are to be created in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America. Financial resources should be allocated for this work and for carrying out effective surveys. The Expert Consultation recognized that the distribution of summarized information from the Global Information Network at least once a year to governments and to concerned institutions and people at all levels would be an important incentive to keep the Network up to date.
23. To ensure efficiency in the development and coordination of the Global Information Network for Animal Genetic Resources, the Expert Consultation recommended that a Data Bank Working Group should be set up under the leadership of FAO and include representatives of each regional centre. An important task of the Working Group would be evaluation of the information collected and provision of guidelines for the further development of the Global Network. It also recommended that, at the various centres in the Network, continued use be made of the computer system already developed at the EAAP/FAO data bank at Hannover; this system acts as an interface for information from the various data banks in the Global Network and thus facilitates easier information flow.
24. The Expert Consultation recommended that FAO reaffirms the resolution received from the World Poultry Science Association, (WPSA) regarding poultry conservation, already endorsed by the FAO Expert Consultation on Animal Genetic Resources held in September 1989. The WPSA resolution reads:
"Whereas the great majority of economically important poultry stocks are now in the hands of a few multinational corporations and
Whereas under these circumstances, economic concerns will override conservation efforts
Whereas governments are tending to opt out of breeding research and flock development and
Whereas poultry gene conservation by cryogenic means is not currently practicable
Be it Resolved the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) urge the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to vigorously pursue the preservation of poultry genetic resources, by means of:
- bringing to the attention of member governments the urgent need to establish national gene pools;
- promoting research into cryogenics or other means of germplasm preservation as an alternative to maintain live birds;
- coordinating information on the current state of poultry genetic stocks available in the world;
- providing support to selected private individuals and institutions, who are in a position to maintain key stocks in adequate numbers. And be it further resolved that the WPSA will actively assist FAO in these initiatives in any way possible”.
25. The recent completion of the EAAP/FAO poultry questionnaire was welcomed. It was also recommended that FAO begins immediately a dialogue with WPSA regarding future collaboration.
26. Recognizing the needs to classify breeds, strains or geographic populations according to risk of being threatened, the Expert Consultation thoroughly discussed various criteria which might be suitable for assessing levels of risk experienced by breeds. The aim of such criteria and levels of risk is to aid decisions on the need for and design of preservation/conservation and development programmes. The factors considered include absolute as well as effective population numbers, reproductive rates, generation intervals, extent of crossbreeding, semen and embryo storage, variations in family size, number and type of farms hosting the animals, and management systems. The Expert Consultation concluded that no single factor could be used as an adequate criterion to classify the level of risk; studies of the dynamics of the breeds in question and of the competing populations are of crucial importance when classifying them for level of risk.
27. The Expert Consultation recommended that a plan of action as illustrated in Appendix 2 should be followed for classifying breeds, strains or populations by level of risk. This classification should also be used for publication and regular updating of the World Watch List of Threatened Breeds.
28. The Expert Consultation noted that the Proceedings of the FAO Expert Consultation of 1989 gives lists of threatened breeds: (FAO, 1990, Animal Genetic Resources: A Global Programme for Sustainable Development. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No.80, pp 185–262). The Expert Consultation recommended that these lists should be used to identify candidate breeds for immediate action; these lists should be further developed to form the first World Watch List of Threatened Breeds.
29. While the Expert Consultation fully accepted and supported the importance and urgency of expanding the animal genetic resources programme to a global scale as indicated by the 1989 COAG, it recognized that not all the needed work and activities can be completed in the immediate future. It therefore recommended the following priorities for action on the basis of the classification of risk in Appendix 2:
It is expected that all three of the above actions will be undertaken concurrently. The Expert Consultation recognized that, where necessary to save a threatened breed, immediate action should be taken to preserve the breed, even in the absence of it being adequately characterized. The Expert Consultation recommended that pilot programmes for conservation by management be initiated for breeds considered of high potential.
30. The Expert Consultation recommended use of certain criteria for deciding which breeds to conserve. A breed should be evaluated for conservation according to whether it is:
threatened
not being efficiently utilized
unique in important characteristics
likely to have potential impact in a large geographical area
especially important to a particular region.
The criteria should also include a study of whether adequate infrastructure is available to develop and conserve the breed.
31. The Expert Consultation recommended that even when the number of animals of a particular breed, strain or population is above a critical level, in order to ensure the protection of pure lines when crossbreeding programmes are introduced, the action plan should encourage appropriate conservation activities by countries holding such livestock to avoid genetic erosion.
32. The Expert Consultation recognized that both crossbreeding and pure breeding are important methods for increasing productivity and should be utilized appropriately and with due caution to safeguard the maintenance of the pure breeds. In this context, the Expert Consultation recommended that the action plan promote the design and utilization of sustainable crossbreeding plans for each domestic species.
33. The Expert Consultation recommended that studies of the degree of genetic similarity among populations should be undertaken to avoid duplication of conservation efforts.
34. Where appropriate, wild relatives of domestic animals should be conserved to preserve unique genetic characteristics for possible later incorporation into domesticated breeds, strains and populations. In these activities there should be close coordination with international and national groups concerned with the conservation of such wild species. The Expert Consultation recognized and commended the excellent efforts of the Specialist Groups of the Species Survival Commission of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Zoological Gardens and other organizations which are engaged in the development of action plans for the conservation of the wild relatives of domestic livestock.
35. The Expert Consultation recommended particular consideration of the candidate breeds, strains or populations listed in Appendix 3 as having highest priority for pilot conservation/development programmes. It was noted that for some of those listed in Appendix 3 conservation and development programmes are already in progress (for example, the N'Dama cattle); the Expert Consultation commended these activities and urged action for those not yet being given attention.
36. The Expert Consultation also recognized that some important species and populations listed in Appendix 3 are not well identified genetically (for example, the West African pigs and the swamp buffalo) and recommended that genetic distance studies be undertaken to identify the appropriate populations that should form the basis of conservation/development programmes.
37. The Expert Consultation noted that some of the candidate high potential breeds, strains or populations given in Appendix 3 may also be threatened and recommended rapid action to identify their current status.
38. The Consultation recommended the Open Nucleus Breeding System (ONBS), both to facilitate conservation and for use in improving populations, to ensure that they are maintained as a valuable resource for present and future generations. In addition to its genetic advantages, the Expert Consultation considered ONBS an appropriate method as it offers the positive benefit of involving participants.
39. The Expert Consultation recommended that the application of the concept of Open Nucleus Breeding should be made in a manner which is conducive to genetic improvement in practical conditions. In particular, the nucleus animals must be maintained in similar environments and under similar husbandry conditions as the base herds and flocks.
40. The Expert Consultation recommended that guidelines be developed for the establishment of Open Nucleus Breeding Systems and for the conduct of such programmes for each breed or species for which the method is used. Such guidelines already exist for tropical hair sheep (FAO, in press).
41. The Expert Consultation confirmed that FAO should continue closely to monitor the rapid developments in biotechnology in order to identify and make use of newly developed techniques for the preservation, characterization and utilization of animal genetic diversity.
42. The Expert Consultation noted that freezing and storage of semen, ova and embryos will continue to be major techniques and procedures for preservation, but that efficiencies vary considerably between species. Consequently it recommended specific efforts to achieve satisfactory efficiency levels for all species.
43. The Expert Consultation noted that whilst DNA storage is currently not an adequate alternative to the cryopreservation of germplasm, it is complementary and should be an integral component of the global animal genetic resources programme for possible future use and for research. Where possible, DNA should be stored in recognized animal gene banks with appropriate access and security measures.
44. To facilitate the process of DNA collection and storage, the Expert Consultation recommended that the action plan include the preparation and publication of a manual describing the sampling strategies and detailed protocols for the collection, preparation and storage of tissues, DNA and RNA libraries.
45. Further, recognizing that the types of genetic material that should be stored will vary according to the level of risk of the breed, strain or population, the Expert Consultation recommended the following policy:
| Breed/Population Status (as defined in Appendix 2) | Stored Materials |
| Critical | DNA, RNA libraries, tissue |
| Endangered or vulnerable | DNA, tissue |
| Rare | DNA |
46. The Expert Consultation noted that genetic distance studies based on protein and DNA variation are sometimes required both for description of threatened populations and for the choice of breeds, strains and populations for development programmes. It recommended that the action plan include such studies where distinct strains, breeds and populations are not identified and where phenotypically similar populations exist in more than one country or over wide geographical areas.
47. The Expert Consultation recognized that current expertise and facilities for DNA based genome studies are very limited in the developing countries, and recommended that the global action plan should include training programmes, the development of appropriate infrastructure and facilities and the formation of close linkages to established laboratories.
48. Recognizing that gene mapping research will have an important role in future conservation and development programmes, the Expert Consultation recommended that protocols for the identification and collection of appropriate individual and family DNA material should be established and the collection of appropriate materials for future research be initiated.
1. CONSERVATION
The management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. Thus conservation is positive, embracing preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilization, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment.
(This definition of Conservation originates with the World Conservation Strategy, which was prepared by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the following collaborative organizations: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)).
2. PRESERVATION
That aspect of Conservation by which a sample of an animal genetic resource population is designated to an isolated process of maintenance, by providing an environment free of the human forces which might bring about genetic change. The process may be in situ, whereby the sample consists of live animals in a natural environment, or it may be ex situ, whereby the sample is placed, for example, in cryogenic storage.
3. CONSERVATION BY MANAGEMENT
That aspect of Conservation by which a sample, or the whole of an animal population is subjected to planned genetic change with the aim of Sustaining, Utilizing, Restoring or Enhancing the quality and/or quantity of the animal genetic resource and its products of food, fibre or draught animal power.
4. THREATENED (Species, breed, strain or population)
A term used to describe an animal genetic resource population which is subject to some force of change, affecting the likelihood of it continuing indefinitely, either to exist, or to retain sufficient numbers to preserve the genetic characteristics which distinguish it from other populations. Threatened is a genetic term embracing more precise descriptions such as Endangered or Vulnerable.
(It is also so used in the context of the World Conservation Strategy).
5. GENE BANK
A physical repository, in one or more locations, where the samples of animal genetic resources populations which are being preserved are kept. These may include animals, embryos, oocytes, sperm, DNA etc.
6. DATA BANK
The fund of knowledge comprising the Characterization and Census information which describe the genetic attributes of animal species, breeds, strains or populations and the various environments in which they occur; this information being stored both as numerics and words in a data/word processing system which provides for the addition of further information for amendment and for analytical use.
7. CHARACTERIZATION
The numeric/word description of:
the genetic attributes of an animal species, breed, strain or population which has a unique genetic identity; and
the environment to which such species, breed, strain or population are adapted or known to be only partially or not adapted.
The Characterization is a succinct statement, being the distillation of all available knowledge both previously published or unpublished, which contributes to the reliable prediction of genetic performance in defined environments. It is different from the mere accumulation of existing reports or individual findings on genetic performance on specific occasions.
8. DESCRIPTORS (of species or environments)
A series of items with defined meanings for a species and its environments, which are universally used to prepare data bank Characterizations of:
breeds, strains or populations of a given species, covering the phenotypic and genetic parameters of the breed;
ii. environments in which breeds of a given species are found, covering the natural and artificial features relevant to genetic analysis, including such items as climate, topography, endemic disease risk, feed and water supply, and management systems.
The purpose of Descriptors is to facilitate valid comparison, classification or enumeration of breeds, strains or populations within a species in the context of the environments in different countries and regions of the world.
(adapted from Animal Production and Health paper No 99 “In situ conservation of livestock and poultry”, by E.L. Henson).
| Table B - Identification of stocks in need of preservation (see section 3.4) | |
| For all breeds identified in table A above and not found in larger numbers in neighbouring countries. | |
What is the estimated total population size of breeding females? Are there special considerations with respect to the population that would place it at greater risk than is usual for a population of this size? |  |
Table B1 - Special Considerations
The specific situation of each population is to be examined. Major considerations are:
Degree of crossbreeding in the population
Reproductive rate and generation interval of the population. Populations with low reproductive rates are at relatively greater risk than populations of high reproductive capacity of comparable size.
Special peculiarities and characteristics of the production system (intensive, extensive, nomadic, etc.)
Historic and current rates of decline in population numbers.
Geographic isolation of the population or its concentration in one or a few locations that would place it at risk as a result of climatic, economic or political changes or disease outbreak.
Populations deemed at additional risk with respect to the above considerations, would be placed in the next higher category (Table B).
Once classified, action plans for conservation of the population are to be implemented as per Tables C (Critical), D (Endangered), E (Vulnerable) and F (Rare).
Table C1 - Critical Live Population
A live animal conservation project must be established.
Objectives:
To increase the size of the breeding herd as rapidly as possible.
To establish a central breeding nucleus with at least an effective population size (Ne)* of 50.
To develop the breed for its qualities.
To minimize the loss of heterozygosity due to inbreeding and drift.
To use the conservation herds to monitor and characterize the breed.
Methods:
A well planned conservation herd should be established and/or a conser programme established to coordinate the farmers and institutions already usin the breed.
Sample as much of the population as possible.
Breeding groups ideally should be at different locations to reduce the risk of disease.
| SPECIES | ASIA | AFRICA | 4 LATIN AMERICA |
| Cattle | Sahiwal(1)* | N'Dama(2) Kenana(4) Boran(5) | Criollo(3) Guzera(6) |
| Buffalo | Murrah(1) Nili-Ravi(3) Swamp(2) | ||
| Sheep | Javanese Thin tail(3) Awassi(5) | Djallonke(1) D'man(4) | Pelibuey(2) |
| Goats | Damascus(2) Jamnapari(3) | Fouta Djallon(1) Boer(5) | Moxoto(4) |
| Pig | Taihu(1) Min(4) | West African(3) | Piau(2) |
| Camelidae | Huacaya Alpaca(1) Suri Alpaca(2) Qara Llama(3) | ||
| Horses | Ahal-Teke(1) | Pantaneiro(2) | |
| Poultry | Domestic ducks(4) Muscovy ducks(3a) Chickens(5a) | Guinea fowl(2) Chickens(5b) | Indigenous Turkeys(1) Muscovy ducks(3b) Chickens(5c) |
* Numbers in parentheses indicate priority order within species groups
