Tropentag, October 6 - 8, 2009 in Hamburg "Biophysical and Socio-economic Frame Conditions for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources"

Recording, Monitoring and Managing (Agro-)Biodiversity – Implementation Oriented Research

¹University of Kassel, Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, Germany
²University of Bonn, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Germany

Abstract

The main topic of the international DAAD-Alumni-Summer-School in Witzenhausen was the demonstration and discussion of classical morphological field methods and of advanced molecular lab methods for recording and characterisation of (agro-)biodiversity. 25 scientist from different tropical and subtropical countries such as Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Viet Nam came together. A special focus of the summer school was on agroforestry/homegarden agro-ecosystems under arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. The role of ex situ and in situ conservation concepts for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) was discussed as well as conservation measures in governmental and non-governmental organisations and institutions. Questions of how to record and document (agro-)biodiversity in the home countries of the participants were embedded in the discussion about the international conservation concepts. The summer school qualified the participants in the fields of ex situ and in situ (agro-)biodiversity conservation concept, promoted the scientific exchange between the participants and will facilitate international research and teaching cooperation.
Presentations and workshops provided the theoretical background for the topic, which were balances with practical morphological field and molecular lab courses. In order to experience the implementation in conservation projects, excursions to the IPK-Genebank in Gatersleben, the Seed Saver Gardens in Schönhagen as well as to the Botanic Garden in Witzenhausen were integral parts of the programme and completed the insight of the participants into the topic of (agro-)biodiversity conservation.
The gained knowledge of the international DAAD-Alumni-Summer-School in Witzenhausen were summarised and are posted at
http://www.agrar.uni-kassel.de/opats/summerschool/.

Keywords: Biodiversity, summer school

Contact Address: Jens Gebauer, University of Kassel, Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, Steinstr. 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany, e-mail: jgebaueruni-kassel.de