In situ conservation

Abstract This paper is a field study, examining outdoor objects in situ. It aims, specifically, to promote a better understanding of the outdoor shrines referred to as 'proskynitaria', which are commonly encountered in Greece. These obscure objects have not only an artistic and religious significance, but reflect human ideas and memories which may have been lost in time but which are closely connected to a site. A recording system has been developed, in order to gather information with regard to the geographic, artistic and scientific characteristics of these unique objects. A case study was used in order to test the efficacy of the system. The data gathered on the physical condition of the 'proskynitaria' was evaluated in order to determine the causes of deterioration and any current or future risks assessed. Recommendations for preventive conservation were guided by traditional approaches to construction within the region.

The critically endangered blue-eyed black lemur (Eulemur macaco flavifrons),which only occurs in a small area of sub-humid forest in northwest Madagascar, has been selected as the flagship species for all conservation efforts concerning the terrestrial part of the newly created protected area on the Sahamalaza peninsula. This paper provides a research and conservation scheme with regard to an ongoing programme

Europe has the greatest concentration of botanic gardens in the world, they cultivate extensive collections of plants that include samples of European threatened plant species. This study looks at the effectiveness of these collections in supporting species conservation. A three part study is presented: (1) the results of a survey and assessment of threatened plants in botanic gardens, as defined by the Bern Convention; (2) case studies illustrating current issues in the ex situ management of European threatened plant species; and (3) presentation of policy recommendations on further improving botanic garden contributions to European plant conservation. The survey indicated that of 119 European botanic gardens in 29 European countries, 105 are cultivating 308 of the 573 threatened plant species listed by the Bern Convention. The survey identified 25 botanic gardens in 14 countries undertaking 51 conservation projects focused on 27 Bern listed species. In particular this survey has e...

Sustainable tourism or ecotourism has been identified as one of the measures to achieve biodiversity conservation at both in situ (e.g. protected areas) and ex situ (e.g. zoos) conditions. The management strategies to harmonize biodiversity conservation and tourism development in the Philippines include the establishment of the National Integrated Protected Areas System, which incorporates tourism as a source of alternative

The modern state and perspectives of ex situconservation of rare and endangered species of the Ukrainian flora in the context of implementation of the Global and the European Strategies for Plant Conservation are considered. The representation of rare plant species in collections of 13 botanical gardens and arboreta of Ukraine is analyzed. Several actions for improving the overall performance of botanical gardens in plant conservation are proposed; including the idea of establishment of a new botanical garden in the high–mountain zone of the Carpathians.

During germplasm explorations carried out in Peru and Colombia, interbreeding complexes of wild and cultivated common bean were observed in both countries, eight in Apurimac and Cusco departments of Peru and eight in Cundinamarca and Boyacá departments of ...

Summary ECONOGENE combines a molecular analysis of biodiversity, socio-economics and geostatistics to address the conservation of sheep and goat genetic resources and rural development in marginal agrosystems in Europe. To assist in situ conservation and address the relevant socio-economic factors, a co-ordinated approach was developed to define strategies of genetic management and rural development. Knowledge of sheep and goat genetic

Under the biological species concept, the intraspecific variability and true species richness of Palearctic mammals has often been overlooked, and therefore the need to conserve it. Recovery projects of endangered European mammals in Western Europe rely mainly upon translocation of conspecifics from viable populations in Central or Eastern Europe. From a wildlife management and restoration ecology point of view, many

This publication is the result of a research collaboration between Bioversity International and the Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA). It deals with issues regarding on-farm conservation of agrobiodiversity, which is a poorly addressed field of research in spite of its pivotal role in the maintenance of global crop diversity. Strategic actors in on-farm conservation are those farmers who, for various reasons, distinguish themselves from others by their contribution to conserving crop diversity. We call them ‘custodian famers’, even though the terminology may not be suitable to all social contexts. Understanding who these custodian farmers are, their presence over the territory, the types of crops they maintain, why and how, as well as gaining insights on the cultural, social and economic drivers behind their efforts is, for scientists, a very important step in devising effective on-farm conservation strategies and this booklet is a contribution in that direction. The open-ended interviews and participant observation methodologies provided in this study are helpful in guiding future methodological approaches and advancing our understanding of how the roles of custodian farmers can be better recognized, harnessed and supported by society. This work has been carried out in the framework of a major global UN Project supported by IFAD and the European Commission, which is focusing on the development of innovative participatory approaches for the conservation of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) on farm.

As relações das pessoas com as coisas e os sítios arqueológicos no contexto amazônico é extremamente plural e contextual. A cada comunidade, pesquisadores e pesquisadoras aprendem outras formas de pensar as intrínsecas relações entre passado e presente. O Laboratório de Arqueologia do Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá tem primado por uma atuação interdisciplinar para o desenvolvimento de ações e pesquisas com as comunidades ribeirinhas nas áreas de proteção. Neste artigo, abordamos as práticas arqueológicas e a salvaguarda do patrimônio em contextos comunitários. Por meio da arqueologia, da conservação arqueológica e da educação, refletimos sobre nosso papel como profissionais que atuam a partir de diferentes saberes e grupos de interesse, onde valores, significados e resultados são revisitados a todo momento em que novas colaborações são estabelecidas, seja entre pesquisas acadêmicas, seja entre agentes da comunidade. Para isso, discute-se os trabalhos desenvolvidos...

Remarkable morphological variation has been found within small Eritrean barley fields. Barley was collected from fields approximately 50 m 2 in size. Spike shape, type, and colour were observed to vary both between and within fields. A set of 39 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers were used to explore the genetic diversity of the Eritrean barley collected from small-scale farmer‟s fields. Significant genetic diversity was found within the barley fields. Out of 240 spikes collected from 24 fields (10 spikes per field), only two spikes from geographically distant fields were genetically similar. Based on the SSR data, individual farmers‟ fields were found to possess 97.3% of the genetic variation present in the Eritrean barley. We discuss a strategy to improve the barley yield in Eritrea, and to facilitate the in situ conservation of barley genetic diversity.