Proportion of plant genetic resources accessions stored ex situ, by physical existence (%):

• Available
• Permanently lost
• Information not available (N/A)

Applies to:

• ER_GRF_PLNTSTOR

This disaggregation allows the monitoring of the status of recorded plant genetic resources. Recording any plant genetic resource in gene banks follows the reporting on 13 descriptors for PGRFA (core and highly recommended descriptors), of which one descriptor provides information on its physical existence(Alercia et al. 2018). Such disaggregation, extracted from the database, would provide relevant local, provincial or national institutions with information to understand the extent to which known genetic diversity is still available and whether conservation policies are required to protect or expand their physical existence (i.e. wild or in-farm).

This disaggregation contributes to Aichi target 13(CBD 2020), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), Target 4: Halt Species Extinction, Protect Genetic Diversity, and Manage Human-Wildlife Conflicts(CBD 2022) and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (FAO 2009).

This disaggregation outlines a dynamic measure for the protection and preservation of existing genetic diversity and is useful for assessing the impacts of genetic resources loss or conservation improvement on human activities that depend on them.

The appropriate conservation and accessibility to genetic resources is central to securing the long-term sustainability of the food and agriculture sector, hence the nation's food security. This is especially true of arid and semi-arid zones in developing countries, where the livelihoods and diet of millions of people, notably the poorer, depend on the preservation of crop and animal diversity to adapt to climate change impacts(FAO 2023d). Efforts to preserve and conserve plant genetic diversity need to be accelerated, particularly for crop wild relatives, wild food plants and overlooked crop species that are most at risk, due to the increasing pressure these species are facing in the natural environment and agriculture fields and the growing threat from climate change. As well, the low proportion of sufficient material stored for local and transboundary animal breeds requires accelerated efforts by countries to prevent permanent loss of animal genetic diversity(FAO 2023e). This is essential to secure sufficient, diverse and nutritious diets and agricultural resources in the future(FAO 2019a).

Number of transboundary breeds, by geographical origin

Applies to:

• ER_GRF_ANIMKPT_TRB
• ER_GRF_ANIMRCNTN_TRB

This disaggregation allows the monitoring of the status of recorded transboundary animal breeds by their geographical origin. As transboundary breeds differ in their genetic diversity based on the specificities of the location and environment that they live in, it is important that genetic diversity for transboundary breeds is stored sufficiently by origin, whether in vivo, in situ or in vitro ex situ, to ensure their conservation and availability for future uses. This is where monitoring the appropriate storage and conservation efforts of transboundary breeds by origin is required to design appropriate policy interventions to prevent breeds’ extinction and permanent loss of genetic diversity(UNSD 2023a).

This disaggregation contributes to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), Target 4: Halt Species Extinction, Protect Genetic Diversity, and Manage Human-Wildlife Conflicts(CBD 2022).