botanic gardens and genetic resource access...
TRANSCRIPT
Botanic Gardens Conservation International The world’s largest plant conservation network
Botanic gardens and genetic resource access challenges
Suzanne Sharrock
Director for Global Programmes
BGCI
Science Places Plants People
Botanic gardens – a global network
• >3,000 botanic gardens and related institutions worldwide
• >115,000 plant species (1/3 of all known plants) in collections (live plants, seeds, DNA, in vitro…)
• Many millions of herbarium specimens
• Databases of additional information
• Focus on conservation, education and research
• Tradition of sharing resources for duplication, research etc.
electronic
images
(available to
researchers
outside the
institution)
anatomical
specimens purified
DNA)
genetic
sequence
data
live seeds
wild
plant
cryopreserved
seeds (in seed
bank)
Other seed
banks
Reintroduce
d to wild
other
samples &
compounds
living
collections
taxonomic data,
trees of life,
species barcodes
sequence databases
e.g. GenBank,
BOLD propagation/breeding
duplicates
to other
herbaria
progeny in
own & other
collections
Herbariu
m
specimens
data for
conservation
assessments,
maps etc.
© Kate Davis
silica-dried
material
Life of a specimen
tissue
culture
Collection management
• Collections are scientifically curated
• Bespoke documentation systems to track accessions
• Information on identity and origin (=essential
information for science), use restrictions etc. kept within the system
• Share material generally for conservation / research / education / display
• All relevant information transferred with material
Implementing CBD and Nagoya
• Proactive approach – Principles on ABS developed in 2000 by diverse group of institutions and countries
• International Plant Exchange Network (IPEN) originally developed by European gardens as a mechanism to facilitate exchange for non-commercial use of living collections, while upholding ABS requirements (presently being updated)
• Training modules to build capacity and raise awareness
• Guidelines and recommendations available via BGCI / national networks
Access challenges and managing requests
• Access from provider country – generally via research partners / collaborators
• Lack of clarity re. national procedures
not always in place / partners may not know them
may need other non-’access’ permissions (e.g., phytosanitary, export…)
lack of response to enquiries (e.g. PIC for transfer/change of use)
May not be accessing for ‘research’ but for conservation / cultivation/ education / display
Managing requests
• Large number of requests for material held in collections – e.g Bonn Botanic Garden
• Index seminum is only sent to other BGs • Other requests are direct or via BGCI’s PlantSearch database
2016 2012-2016 annual mean
(2012-16)
(1) Orders from index seminum: 3,327 18,208 3,642
(2) other material transfers from BG Bonn
(outside index seminum): total 502 3,431 686
seeds 91 643 129
plants 323 2384 477
cuttings 39 238 48
leaf material 49 166 33
Managing requests
• New PIC for change of use – likely to be considered responsibility of potential user not BG
• Potential for increase in requests for pre-CBD material
• Increasing use of non-commercial MTAs • IPEN numbers help to track back to original
provider and documents – but limitations re. restricted material, detailed tracking and demonstrating benefit-sharing.
• Leadership, awareness, capacity and appropriate data management systems are key.
Thank you for your attention
Questions??