Nationally Important Agro-biodiversity Heritage Sites (NIABHS): An Innovative Concept for Sustainable Conservation Efforts

Transcription

1 Nationay Important Agro-biodiversity Heritage Sites (NIABHS): An Innovative Concept for Sustainabe Conservation Efforts P. K. Singh ICAR- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Dikusha P.O., Lucknow *Emai: Introduction The Protection of Pant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 under section 45 states that: 1. The Centra Government sha constitute a Fund to be caed the Nationa Gene Fund and there sha be credited thereto - (a) the benefit sharing received in the prescribed manner from the breeder of a variety or an essentiay derived variety registered under this Act, or propagating materia of such variety or essentiay derived variety, as the case may be; (b) the annua fee payabe to the Authority by way of royaty under sub-section (1) of section 35; (c) the compensation deposited in the Gene Fund under sub-section (4) of section 41; (d) the contribution from any nationa and internationa organization and other sources. (2) The Gene Fund sha, in the prescribed manner, be appied for meeting - (a) any amount to be paid by way of benefit sharing under sub-section (5) of section 26; (b) the compensation payabe under subsection (3) of section 41; (c) the expenditure for supporting the conservation and sustainabe use of genetic resources incuding in-situ and ex-situ coections and for strengthening the capabiity of the Panchayat in carrying out such conservation and sustainabe use; (d) the expenditure of the scheme reating to benefit sharing framed under section 46. The highighted points ceary mandates that the PPV&FR Authority shoud, in prescribed manner (that is through Gazette Notification), deveop a system which can support the conservation of ex-situ coections in such a way that it can simutaneousy strengthen the capabiities of the Panchayat in carrying out such conservation efforts and further create avenues for using it in a sustainabe way. Based on this, the present Concept Note is an attempt to carve out a system for identifying and strengthen Nationay Important Agro-biodiversity Heritage Sites (NIABHS). Nationay Important Agro-biodiversity Heritage Sites The ogic of identifying and promoting some sites as Nationay Important Agro-biodiversity Heritage Sites revoves around the fact that: These sites have sustained the oca popuation with round the year suppy of food items as we as other iveihood needs. The natura evoution and seection is sti ongoing in these areas and can continue for years to come. These sites can provide diverse genes and gene sources for adaptive research deaing with cimate change. The compex ecosystems of such sites provide unique opportunities for perpetua speciation and production of diversity. 163

2 164 Agro-biodiversity from Chitrakoot and near by areas

3 Agro-biodiversity from Chitrakoot and near by areas The word Heritage signifies the mutua reationship between the residents of the area and the per se agro-biodiversity avaiabe with them for sustenance. These sites are supposed to be rich in Indigenous Technica Knowedge associated with the agro-biodiversity existing in the area. Synergies 'NIABHS' concept has cose synergy to the concept of Gobay Important Agricutura Heritage Systems (GIAHS) which are being identified and promoted by FAO since 2002 with a vision of "Dynamic conservation of a agricutura heritage systems and their mutitude of goods and services, for food and iveihood security, now and for future generations". FAO indicates that 'Traditiona agricuture systems are sti providing food for some two biion peope today. They aso sustain biodiversity, iveihoods, practica knowedge and cuture. This goba agricutura heritage needs to be recognized and supported in ways that aow it to continue evoving - and provisioning goods and services for the present and future generations'. Some of the Indian GIAHS sites identified by FAO incude Yak-based pastora management in Ladakh, Saffron system in Kashmir, Seethampheta in Andhra Pradesh, the 165

4 166 Darjeeing system in the Himaayas, Koraput System in Orissa, etc. The criteria for NIABHS It is proposed that foowing basic requirements shoud be fufied for identifying any area as NIABHS: 1. Sustenance of Food and Liveihood Security of the Area: The first and foremost importance of identifying any area as NIABHS is associated with its abiity to sustain the Food and Liveihood needs of the residents. The site shoud have enough agro-biodiversity to provide round the year suppy of food and other needs of the residents. 2. Indigenous Nature of the Agro-biodiversity: The site shoud have proven indigenous agrobiodiversity of its own rather than the coection made by the progressive farmers. 3. Richness of ITK associated with the Agrobiodiversity: The knowedge system governing inherent potentia, dynamic use, commercia processing etc associated with the agro-biodiversity avaiabe at the site is a must for sustainabe and dynamic conservation of the agro-biodiversity. 4. Conservation of Rare and Endangered agrobiodiversity: The areas which have proven record of conserving rare and endangered agro-biodiversity shoud be identified and deveoped as NIABHS. 5. Richness of germpasm/varieties avaiabe at a particuar site: Even if the number of species being conserved in any particuar area may not be more, but if the area is rich in germpasm/varieties of a particuar species or few species, the site can be identified as NIABHS. 6. Abiity of the Area to be deveoped as a Heritage Site: The NIABHS concept revoves around dynamic conservation and up-scaing of activities reated to sustenance of food and iveihood security of any area. Thus, it is important to identify ony those areas as NIABHS which have inherent abiity to progress as Heritage Site which wi invove a compex mix of human efforts as we as market forces. Proposed Impementation Guideines for NIABHS Mode of Impementation: The concept wi be impemented in Project Mode out of the funds earmarked under Nationa Gene Fund. These projects wi be invited through open advertisement and wi be time bound in impementation. Project Design: Each project wi have some basic technica components and some innovative components. The basic technica components wi be based on the isting of genetic resources reated to agrobiodiversity of the area, isting of beneficiaries/ affected residents, the deveopmenta scenario of the area, the natura map of the site, a report on the abiity of the site to sustain the residents, the prospects of deveopment and increasing iveihood of the beneficiaries, the empoyment generation, etc. The innovative component wi dea with the innovative ways and ideas for up-scaing the conservation efforts aong with ensuring iveihood sustenance of the beneficiaries/ residents. Demarcation of the Site proposed under the Project: Each Site wi have demarcated before the impementation of the project. A baseine database on the socio-economic status, market access, market potentia, quaity and quantity of agroproducts being produced etc wi be required. For the purpose the Task Force may recommend for a imited amount of budget before finay approving the tota project. Evauation and Vauation of the Project: Each project wi be screened by the Task Force/ Expert Group, both at the site and through presentations at the appropriate pace. The quantum of financia hep wi be decided by the Task Force/ Expert Group on the basis of quantum of work proposed in the project, the needs of the agro-biodiversity conservation at the site, the needs of the

5 deveopmenta hep to be provided through the project, etc. Signature Deveopments at NIABHS: Each NIABHS to be identified and deveoped under this concept wi have some Signature Deveopments, so that these can be easiy identified and unified in future. For exampe, each site shoud have a speciay designed and erected Site Office with faciities of management, storage, transaction, processing, etc. This wi faciitate the interconnectivity between a such offices, head office and ater on with other deveopmenta activities which can be undertaken under the project for sustenance of such NIABHS. Stakehoders: The proposed stakehoders for the impementation of the project aong with their responsibiities wi be as beow: N o d a I m p e m e n t i n g A g e n c y : S t a t e Agricutura University/ ICAR Institute ocated nearby / Reputed NGO of the area with agricutura research faciities. The Noda A g e n c y w i b e r e s p o n s i b e f o r t h e identification of the Site, seection of the stakehoders' to be associated with the project, preparation of the project, execution of the project, financia management of the project, etc. Technica Support Partners: Biodiversity Internationa and ICAR-NBPGR wi be invoved as technica Partners in the impementation of the concept at different eves. Line Departments: Government Line Departments deaing with agricuture, horticuture, forestry, etc wi be needed for synchronizing/converging the efforts being made under different schemes, identification of beneficiaries, up-scaing activities to be takenup under the project, iaison among the residents, etc. Panchayats/Loca Bodies/Custodian Farmers: The roe of Panchayats/ Loca Bodies/ Custodian Farmers wi be invoved in identification of beneficiaries, impementation of deveopmenta activities, etc. Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries wi incude farmers/ tribas etc residing in the area and directy associated with the target agrobiodiversity under the project. Hired Manpower: For smooth conduct of day to day activities of the project certain manpower wi be required to be hired under the project as per need. Expected Outcome of the Projects Each project wi deveop a NIABHS, which wi have a: We documented cataogue of Agro-biodiversity of the defined area. Dynamic and Vibrant System, which is sef sustainabe with scaed-up activities reated to conservation and systematic commerciaization of the agro-biodiversity reated products. Scientificay protected and we defined site for natura evoution and seection. Scientificay documented ITKs. Scientific record where gene mining can be taken-up in future whenever cimate resiient genes wi be required for breeding programmes. Working system with faciities for research and education of the agricutura scientists/ students. Pace where a common man can visit as tourist to understand the natura heritage of the area or the country as a whoe. Besides these, one major roe which NIABHS wi pay is poughing back of the benefits for those who have conserved the agro-biodiversity since ages. Aim of Nationay Important Agrobiodiversity Heritage Sites The aim of the NIABHS is sustainabe and profitabe in-situ or on site conservation of agrobiodiversity under natura conditions. 167