United United Nations Nations Environment ProgrammeEnvironment Programme

Regional Cooperation and Coordination Regional Cooperation and Coordination ExperiencesExperiences

Marieta SakalianProgramme Management/Liaison Officer Biodiversity UNEP/FAO/CGIARUNEP Division of GEF Coordination

ObjectivesObjectives– Conservation of the unique high diversity of

– wild and cultivated fruit species in CA – Enhancement of farmers’ production and

livelihood – strategies

Policy and legislation: Providing options to policy-makers for strengthening legal and policy frameworks; increase awareness on agrobiodiversity value

Knowledge and methodologies: Assessing, documenting and managing local varieties of horticulture crops and wild fruit species in a in a sustainable way;

Capacity building: across all relevant aspects meant to strengthen diversity conservation at local, national and regional levels.

Collaboration and partnership: Promote broad stakeholder participation in agrobiodiversity management to ensure sustainability project activities

In SituIn Situ/On farm Conservation of /On farm Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity in Central Agricultural Biodiversity in Central Asia Asia ((Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,Turkmenistan Uzbekistan)Tajikistan,Turkmenistan Uzbekistan)

The Region is one of the centres of origin and domestication for any globally important , vegetables, cereals, etc.) by N.I. Vavilov;

Common threats to genetic diversity: - Overgrazing, Deforestation, Logging,

industrialization in the wild, using of uniform high-yield varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides

Shared environment degradation problems- Genetic erosion, loss of traditional diversity-based

farming systems and loss of biodiversity, arable lands degradation, soil erosion

pollution, deforestation

Socioeconomic similarities

Traditions in working in partnership

Why Regional Multi-Why Regional Multi-country Approach?country Approach?

Keys for SuccessKeys for SuccessGlobal Environment

benefits and development needs

Multy stakeholder participation

Country ownership

Project development in respond to country needs

Open, transparent and inclusive decision making process

Builds on national and regional strategies for biodiversity conservation and strengthens the regional network “CATCN-PGR”

Consistent with the GEF OPs and BD Focal areas SP

Farmers

EAs with national networks

Mechanisms for Mechanisms for cooperationcooperation

Regional Steering Committee, Multidisciplinary Site Committees in each pilot site;

Participatory management methodologies Scientific and technical cooperation - Joint research and Exchange of

information- Crops working groups - Promotes shared responsibilities among

countries within the project and the CATCN-PGR); Regional training centres on pomegranate, walnut, molecular markers,

marketing strategies and centres on priority fruit species in different countries;

Training programes for Decision makers , farmers and local communities, protected areas managers, researchers and instructors;

Genetic Resources Information System (GRIS)- Shared digital database on assessment of diversity distribution and level of genetic resources of targeted fruit species;

Collaborative agreement on access and exchange of information on database between/among institutions involved in work on genetic resources of fruit crops at national and regional levels.

Cooperation and shared Cooperation and shared objectives within the objectives within the

regionregion The project builds on the Regional Environmental

Action Plan (REAP) – initiated by UNEP office in Asia and the Pacific and developed as a joint venture between UNEP, UNDP and ADB (in 2000);

Facilitates the coordination between the National Strategies for PGR Conservation and supports implementation of the Regional Strategy on PGR Conservation;

Strengthening of CATCN-PGR Promotes coordination and collaboration between

Ministries of Environment and Agriculture in partner countries;

Complements other GEF supported initiatives in the region.

ConstrainsConstrains

Farmers have not historically been included in the process of documenting and decision-making for conserving genetic diversity;

Traditional weak links within the scientific community – among natural scientists and between natural and social scientists

and economists;

Some differences in political and economic reforms.

Contribution to Biodiversity Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Well-being in Conservation and Well-being in

the Regionthe Region

Strengthened Policy

Increased Knowledge

Contribution to Biodiversity Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Well-being in Conservation and Well-being in

the Regionthe Region

Contribution to Biodiversity Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Well-being in Conservation and Well-being in

the Regionthe RegionEcosystemsRehabilitation

Broad Participation and Strong Partnership

Contribution to Biodiversity Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Well-being Conservation and Well-being

in the Regionin the Region

Contribution to Biodiversity Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation and Well-being in Conservation and Well-being in

the Regionthe Region

Increased Capacity

Thank youQuestions?