Ex Situ Conservation Efforts USA, National Seed Storage Laboratory, Germplasm, Collins, Colorado, Genetic Resources Action International

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Biodiversity and its Conservation
Biodiversity and its Conservation Introduction
Current Levels of Biodiversity
Alpha (α) and Beta(β) Biodiversity
Extinction and Endangered Species
Reasons of Concern for Loss of Biodiversity
Ethical and Aesthetic Rewards
Economic Benefits
Essential Services Provided by Natural Ecosystems
Steps to Preserve Biodiversity
In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Gene Banks
In Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts at International Level
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts by G-15 Countries
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts in USA

	Ex situ conservation efforts in USA. In U.S.A., medium term storage facilities for seeds were established in 1940's by regional plant introduction stations. However, in 1960s, due to widespread adoption of new high-yielding varieties leading to green revolution, the local varieties were threatened. This was, therefore, the start of increased efforts to collect these local varieties and other germplasm, which could be valuable for future plant breeding programmes.
In USA, therefore, in 1978 long-term seed storage (at -180.C), facilities were created at National Seed Storage Laboratory (NSSL) in Fort Collins, Colorado. Ex situ conservation efforts in Europe. A European Community (EC) Programme on the conservation of plant genetic resources was initiated in 1992, with a meagre budget of 2.5 million US dollars. In January 1992, EC also convened a meeting of national coordinators to consider a proposal for conservation of plant genetic resources. The proposal was jointly prepared by (i) Centre for Genetic Resources (CGN), the Netherlands, (ii) Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN), Spain and (iii) International Board of Plant Genetic Resources or IBPGR (now called IPGRI = International Plant Genetic Resource Institute). This proposal recommends linking of European gene bank programmes and NODs (non-government organizations) .through crop networks. This will continue to build on, and expand the work of the European Cooperative.Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks, which has been coordinated by IBPGRJIPGRI since 1980s.