How to combine display of historical plants with conservation and use of genetic resources Åsmund Asdal Norwegian Genetic Resources Centre .

How to combine display of historical plants with conservation and use of genetic resources

Åsmund AsdalNorwegian Genetic Resources Centre

www.genressurser.no

www.plantearven.no

Field collections of plant varieties in Norway

• Decentralized conservation system:• Cooperation with 22 institutions; open air museums, botanical gardens,

schools, R&D institutions etc.• Coordinated by Norwgian Genetic Resource Institute• Written agreements with the host institutions• Combination of national mandate varieties and local cultural heritage

varieties• Web information about conservation sites, plants and varieties

conserved and availability

22 host institutions involved in conservation

– Fruit varieties: 13 sites– Vegetables and herbs: 3 sites– Roses: 3 sites– Perennials: 8 sites– Berries: 2 sites (not settled/finalized)– Potatoes (tissue culture): under establishment– In door plants. 1 site

Agreements with host institutions

• Long term conservation of varieties• Labeling, documentation and information• Availability and distribution of material• In accordance with

– ITPGRFA / use of Hobby MTA

– The Norwegian Biodiversity Act

• Yearly reports about changes in collections, use of material and public relation activities

• Maintaining Thematic networks• Some economic compensation from NGRC• Options for project funding

Hardanger folkemuseum, Utne Fruit varieties

Domkirkeodden, Hamar Fruit varieties

Nordfjord Folkemuseum Fruit varieties

Karnilstunet, Sandane Fruit varieties

Vigatunet, Hjelmeland, Rogaland Fruit varieties

Lier Bygdetun Fruit varieties, perennials and roses

Hvaler Fruktprosjekt Fruit varieties

Lund Bygdemuseum, Moi Fruit varieties

Grønt kompetansesenter, Ulvik Fruit varieties

Inst. for Plante- og miljøvitenskap, UMB, Ås Fruit varieties, roses, rhubarbs

Norsk fruktmuseum, Sogn Fruit varieties

Bioforsk Vest Ullensvang, Hardanger Cherries

Bioforsk Landvik, Grimstad Vegetables, berries

Bioforsk Apelsvoll, Toten Herbs, MAPs

Botanisk hage/arboret, Milde, Bergen Perennials, roses and in door plants

Botaniske hage, Tøyen, Oslo Perennials and roses

Agder naturmuseum/Bot. Hage, Kristiansand Perennials and roses

Botanisk hage UiTø, Tromsø Perennials etc.

Botanisk hage, Ringve, Trondheim Perennials

Norsk Hagebruksmuseum, Grimstad Fruit, perennials, rhubarbs

Lofothager, 6 sites in Lofoten Perennials etc.

Gamle Hvam Museum Perennials etc.

Experiences: Advantages

• Synergies regarding costs and resources

• Display of plant diversity many places

• Big numbers of visitors

• A significant network of dedicated and skilled persons and institutions

• Inspire other cultural/historical institutions to use authentic plants

• Increased capasities and stand by functions

• Easy project cooperation; investigations, R&D, PR-activities etc.

• Some security / vulnerability advantages

Experiences: Disadvantages

• Complicated administration of several partners and collection sites

• Impossible to keep the same standards in all collections (maintenance, records etc.)

• Differences in capasity; competence, availability and prepardness

• Complex recording of the state of conserved plants

• Varying / slow execution of material orders• A degree of voluntariness / challenging recruiting

af dedicated persons• Some security / vulnerability disadvantages

PLANTEARVEN (The Plant Heritage) - collections – show windows for genetic resources and diversity

13 conservation sites for fruit varieties

PLANTEARVEN at ”Flaskeepleplassen på Gryvlehaugen”

Case: PLANTEARVEN at Portåsen- the birth place of the poet Herman Wildenvey- authentic plants completing the museum/cultural centre- fruit trees, perennials, old meadow and vegetable & herb garden

Security measurements

• Duplication of valuable plants • Mandate varieties; at least two plants in two different localities• Records of sampling sites• Promoting use / records of users• Plant clubs / members as ”foster gardens”• Seeds to gene bank• Plant disease control

Documentation systems

• Quite primitive; mainly excel sheets and lists• Fruit mandate varieties displayed at Finn fruktsorter:

http://www.skogoglandskap.no/seksjoner/sortsdatabase• Will be extended to potato varieties in 2012• ”Plant portraits” at www.genressurser.no and www.plantearven.no• Food crops in Norwegian SESTO in 2012 and transferred to EURISCO• Ornamental plants; databases at host institustion and lists on

http://www.skogoglandskap.no/temaer/prydbevaring

Promoting the use of PGR- an important part of the conservation efforts

• Documentation of plant material

• Easy access and availability

• Marketing The Plant Heritage / generating demand for plants

• Well functionning systems for distribution

• Cooperation projects

PLANTEARVEN:

1. PLANTEARVEN – Our national Plant Genetic Resources

2. Website: http://www.plantearven.no

3. Registered trade mark® available

4. Tool for marketing and information

5. Information about

– Registered PLANTEARVEN-plants

– History and properties / images

– Producers and availability

Use of old varieties – the ultimate goal

The PLANTEARVEN – prize

The ideal system for conservation - regardless of costs

A combination of a centralized and desentralized system

• One or a few centralized collections:– High quality maintenance of plants, regarding plant health, documentation and

distribution of material

• Many local collections:– Back-ups for the centralised collections and public relation functions; display of

plants for numbers of public visitors and base for maintaining networks

Thanks for your attention