[The convention on biological diversity and appropriate policy on plant genetic resources in Nepal]

Plant breeding has played a significant role in increasing world food production. However, the success of plant breeding depends on the availability of plant genetic variation for achieving required characteristics. It is widely accepted that plant genetic resources (PGR) are depleting because of the displacement of crop landraces by modern crop varieties and degrading natural habitats of wild species. Considering the results from such a process, the International Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs, under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, CGIAR), in cooperation with National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), have collected and maintained plant genetic resources of many crops ex situ. However, there was a lack of a worldwide policy on plant genetic resources conservation and use. Thus, the convention on Biological Diversity signed by 157 countries at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) came into force on 29 December 1993 as an internationally legallybinding law. This convention has approved the national sovereignty and has also identified national responsibility and international collaboration for PGR. Therefore, the Governments of each country has to revise or formulate their national policies on plant genetic resources in the light of this convention. For Nepal, in situ conservation in protected areas is advisable for wild relatives of crops and wild plant species. Similarly, a farmer participatory decentralized plant breeding approach has been discussed for cultivated plant species. Conservation of crop landraces in protected areas by farmers through the provision of incentives is also suggested in the paper. There should also be a central coordinating body for plant genetic resource conservation and use. This national institution can also accommodate hightech long term storage facilities such as cryopreservation ex situ. A multilateral system of plant genetic resources, being forwarded by the CGIAR should be followed along with bilateral deals for PGR utilization.