Framework conditions

Framework conditions of the German Gene Bank for Ornamentals

On the basis of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR), Germany has made the international commitment to

  • maintain biodiversity and agro-biodiversity in the long term,
  • promote sustainable use and
  • facilitate a global agreement on the management of the Earth’s resources.

The national implementation of the CBD with the relevant framework conditions and tasks is conducted by the National Strategy on Biological Diversity.

The national strategy is supplemented and substantiated by means of the National Work Programme and the BMEL agro-biodiversity strategy (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries).

Measures that must be taken in order to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources include the creation and development of suitable:

  • organisational structures (central structure or decentralised e.g. a network)
  • infrastructure (e.g. in the form of conservation and assessment facilities),
  • information structures (incl. documentation, evaluation and information systems)

The German Gene Bank for Ornamentals was founded in 2009 in order to put these measures into practice.