THE WORKSHOP
As already announced briefly in FGRI No. 16, the above Workshop was held in Cosquín, Argentina, 3–8 October 1988 and was attended by some 60 participants form 9 countries. The Workshop was organized by the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, University of Córdoba, in technical collaboration with FAO's Forestry Department.
During the sessions, the participants split into four working groups, which considered the following aspects:
Socioeconomic development
Conservation and regionalization
Role of genebanks in genetic resources conservation
Biology, genetic improvement and productivity.
OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP
To raise the awareness at political and technical levels, and of the public at large, of the national and international importance of the genus Prosopis; to take stock of the present state of technical know-how and to exchange information and experiences; and to analyse the possibilities to strengthen work on the genus Prosopis, including conservation, protection, management and scientific study on the various species found in its areas of natural distribution.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The Workshop acknowledged that sustainable development depends, to a large extent, on the conservation and wise use of genetic resources of plants and animals. It is acknowledged that pressure on the existing vegetation of trees and shrubs is today enormous; however, at the same time, we have the possibility to draw on a wealth of technical information which will permit us to use these resources more efficiently than in the past. It is essential to ensure their continued availability, which plays a fundamental role in the generation of revenue and which is the very basis for improvement of rural living.
A great number of species in the genus Prosopis have proved of actual or potential importance in the development of arid and semi-arid areas; loss of genetic diversity within and between species, which is irreversible, thus signifies that little by little we will lose the tools necessary to ensure integrated and sustainable development in these areas.
The genus Prosopis forms part of an intricate and complex ecological system. Although the present Workshop has focused attention on this specific genus, it does not mean that the importance of other, associated species and genera should be ignored, as they, too, play an important role in the development of arid and semi-arid lands.
OBSERVATIONS BY THE WORKING GROUPS
During the deliberations, the following main observations were made:
I. Socioeconomic development
Increasing marginalization of human populations in arid and semi-arid lands is largely due to current utilization patterns of renewable natural resources, which lead to decreased environmental stability and which do not allow for a reinvestment of profits into these areas. The effects of such marginalization will manifest themselves in a decrease in productive capacity of the land, destitution and migration of local populations and a growing dependence on more developed areas.
Species of the genus Prosopis play a key role in marginal areas, thus they can and should be used to promote socioeconomic development in these areas.
The following strategies for action were proposed to face prevailing problems:
Improve agricultural production through agroforestry practices, with the aim of achieving self-sufficiency in food production.
Adopt conservation measures using woody perennials: stabilization of shifting dunes, watershed protection and management and optimization of use of water resources.
Consider the needs of silvopastoralism and of wildlife in reforestation plans and watershed schemes, through inclusion of ecologically well-adapted forage and browse species in the plantations established.
Adopt management schemes of natural stands of Prosopis which protect and stabilize the environment.
Reduce the energy deficit through improving the productivity of existing forest resources, through establishment of wood energy plantations, and through improving conversion and utilization methodologies.
Improve, nationally and internationally, the availability of the various products produced by Prosopis through sustainable development of industry and the marketing sector.
Diversify the sources of employment and generation of income of the rural population through better, multiple-use forest management practices, including agroindustrial development.
Provide incentives for training of personnel to carry out research in the fields of production and industrialization; and to help restore and conserve existing resources.
Respect existing social patterns which, in a positive manner, support the self-determination of rural populations, thus extending the universal benefits of development to these populations through participatory involvement.
II. Conservation and Regionalization
Presently available reproductive materials originate from pheno-typically outstanding desirable populations. Field experiments need to be established to determine the genetic mechanisms of the various species and the heritability of specific characteristics of interest. These experiments should be concerned with the most promising species and be established in a range of ecological conditions in interested countries, so as to provide information in accordance with differing needs and end use requirements.
It is necessary to ensure continuous and easy flow of information on the results of species and provenance trials between countries, above all between the country providing the germplasm and the recipient country.
It is necessary to intensify and expand phenological research as a basis for appropriate multipurpose management techniques (development of phenological calendars); as well as for a more accurate forecast of the potential adaptation and growth of species in new ecological environments.
Utilization of the genus Prosopis in multipurpose systems could fill an important gap, cutting across from agriculture and silvopastoralism to forestry in degraded lands. The species of this genus can play a dominant role in the climatic zone where they attain their optimal development (arid and semi-arid areas), or a secondary role in other zones (humid and sub-humid areas). Some species can contribute towards the recuperation of poor, saline or inundated soils.
Prevailing ecological conditions will largely determine end use. Where the environmental conditions are marginal for plant growth, the aim should be to conserve the resource and to focus on the production of fruits, fodder, gums etc. In more favourable conditions, wood production should be promoted. In order to conserve the resource, selective felling should be favoured, whereas clear felling without adequate and timely provision for regeneration should be avoided.
The species of Prosopis differ as regards susceptibility to attack by insects and diseases. Maximum use should be made of such variation in improvement schemes aimed at breeding pest-resistant trees without, however, completely discarding the possibilities of developing the use of natural enemies in biological biological pest control programmes.
III. Role of Genebanks in Genetic Resource Conservation
Conservation of genetic resources is essential for the well-being, and in some cases for the very survival of human populations. Genetic resources are a common heritage of mankind: their disponibility is necessary for present-day generations while, at the same time, we must ensure their availability for future generations. It is therefore essential to give maximum priority to the management of existing genetic resources.
At the same time, it is important to arrange and classify available information on these resources, with a view to advising genetic improvement programmes and programmes aimed at the domestication of the genus Prosopis, at the national and international level.
The above underlines the importance of the efficient functioning of genebanks, which, in addition to storage and conservation of genetic materials, will manage, classify and evaluate them.
In response to the above requirements, and based on experiences in conservation of the resources, a document has been prepared for the present Workshop which outlines technical aspects and general considerations in the functioning of a genebank for Prosopis. The document also defines the basic objectives of genetic conservation and outlines the methodologies to be used to fulfill such objectives.
The document proposes that the following action should be taken:
The creation of a global network of coordinated genebanks dealing with Prosopis, to facilitate the exchange of information, experiences and genetic materials; in view of the wealth of genetic variation found in this genus in Argentina, the focal point for the network should be the existing Prosopis Genebank in this country.
Inter-institutional coordination, within and between countries, should be guaranteed so as to maximize efficiency and to avoid duplication of effort and wastage of scarce financial and human resources.
It is important to raise the awareness among politicians and the public at large of the importance of the genetic resources of Prosopis, as these resources are not only of scientific interest but also of great social significance.
Adequate human resources must be made available to shoulder the task of genetic conservation and wise use of genetic resources, and provision must be made for training of such staff and for ensuring continuity. It is also necessary to generate sufficient funding to allow for optimal and continuing functioning of established genebanks.
IV. Biology, Genetic Improvement and Productivity
Taxonomy. Clear-cut separation of the various species in collection areas is made difficult by the great inter and intraspecific variation found in the genus Prosopis. It is proposed that morphological descriptors be systematically used when carrying out collections; and that taxonomic identification be improved following the advice and norms of specialists in this field.
Objectives and methodology of population analysis and strategies for sampling. It is essential to study the geographic distribution of native species of the genus Prosopis; to determine the structure and dynamics of existing stands; to evaluate the genetic variation found within and between populations; and to collect germplasm with the aim of sampling for (i) maximum variation; and (ii) to meet the needs of specified end uses.
Research on Breeding System. Research on this aspect must be intensified, in view of the decisive role that the breeding system will play in determining improvement programmes and related strategies.
Propagation. Plantations of operational scale should be established using seedlings. As a complement, research should be stepped up on methods of vegetative propagation (cuttings, tissue culture, grafts) as a possible tool to be used within well-defined breeding programmes.
Strategies and targets of genetic improvement. Species, provenance and progeny trials should be established and evaluated, in order to obtain genetic information on existing populations; selection and testing of plus trees should be carried out to meet specific breeding and utilization needs.
Strategies of conservation. Greatest attention should be paid to the conservation of genetic resources in accordance with established, international norms, using the two complementary strategies of in situ and ex situ conservation.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
Presently, work in the arid and semi-arid zones, worldwide, is largely oriented towards analysing technical and scientific questions. Although important, solutions at these levels will not, per se, help solve the problems of degradation of forests and the environment.
It is important and urgent to raise the awareness of decision-makers and the general public to existing problems and their possible solutions, so as to catalyze action which can contribute efficiently to development; it is also important to inform these groups of the great potential which the genus Prosopis has as a basic tool in the sustainable utilization of existing natural renewable resources.
A more complete final, technical document was produced by the Workshop (69 pp.). It is hoped that this final report will be reproduced for general distribution, funding permitting. For more information, please contact: Ing. Agr. U.O. Karlin, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad nacional de Córdoba, C.C. 509, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
