Abstract:

Genetic diversity is a key element in farmers‟ livelihood strategies particularly in areas under high ecological, climatic and economic stresses and risks. This paper discusses the conceptual framework of on-farm/in situ conservation in adapting and mitigating climate change through an integrated system of diversified food production and land use. The role of on-farm/in situ conservation of crops is discussed along with its complementary advantages over ex situ conservation. Empowerment of farming communities is essential for effective in situ/on-farm conservation as the process encourages local level decision making on management of genetic resources. The paper also highlights community-based biodiversity management as a methodology to realize in situ/on-farm conservation through strengthening farmer seed systems, and promoting climate resilient integrated home garden production systems, especially underutilized crop species and carbon rich farming that support climate change actions. Implementation of biodiversity management approaches will require conducive policy environment in order to be truly effective and sustainable. Some relevant recommendations on how to best proceed towards a viable in situ/on - farm conservation system are also proposed.

Key results:

Many neglected and underutilized species which are currently maintained through in situ conservation on-farm could be the important crops for the future. Their adaptability, plasticity and resilience to stresses provide farmers with needed coping strategies to confront with climate changes. Because of changes in shift in rainfall pattern and temperature deviations from normal, community based management of a wide portfolio of plant and animal genetic diversity is required to allow adaptive capacity. The suitability of current crop genotypes to local conditions will change in both positive and negative ways, depending upon the crop and region, but will affect many production systems. The processes of in situ/on- farm management of agricultural biodiversity have developed a range of genetic diversity that helps to diversifying incomes and livelihoods of people in such changing situations. On-farm management of genetic diversity has traditionally allowed farmers to cope with adversity and this process will continue to serve that function in future too.

While the international community is responding to climate change threat by lending increased support to ex situ conservation, very little is done to support evolutionary breeding process i.e. on-farm /in situ conservation where the largest amount of the world’s local crop diversity is maintained for immediate use. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand the (very poorly known) situation regarding the in situ/on farm conservation of agrobiodiversity (including NUS), mapping out species distribution and their threats, documenting who maintains/ exchanges both diversity and associated traditional knowledge and how these materials and knowledge flows from farmer-to-farmer. All these data will be essential to guide local institutions and governments to develop suitable strategies for monitoring the impact of climate change over time and act in time to reduce negative impact on agrobiodiversity and livelihood of the people depending on it.

In order to strengthen the capacity of farmers, it is essential to consolidate the roles of farmers as conservers, promoters of diversity and dynamic innovators by enabling policy environment for on-farm management, farmer innovation and strengthening farmers’ seed systems coupled with scientific capacity building of these communities. The community biodiversity management (CBM) approach include: (i) knowledge about biodiversity and associated landscapes, (ii) social systems facilitating maintenance and exchange of their genetic resources, (iii) local institutions that support and govern local management and access to biodiversity, (iv) technologies, processes and practices that add value to local genetic resources, (v) local financial resources such as group savings and credits to ensure continuity, and (vi) necessary linkages to appropriate institutions which will sustain the access to livelihood assets.

It is therefore of utmost importance that greater research thrust is given on:

• Strengthening capacity of the community to maximize use of genetic diversity to adapt to climate change

• Integrating diverse crops, trees, livestock and aquatic species (including NUS) to enhance adaptability and resilience capacity to changing environmental conditions

• Establish monitoring and early warning systems for NUS in the context of greater interventions in support of in situ/on- farm conservation of local biodiversity (including the introduction of „Red Lists‟ for cultivated crops);

• Promote greater access and exchange of diversity of underutilized (including expansionof Annex I list of the Treaty on PGRFA) as a critical element in support of crop diversification strategies.