Conservation of genetic resources for agriculture, forestry and fisheries

National programmes based on international conventions and action plans related to the protection of genetic resources, guide work on genetic resources. The implementation of such programmes has proceeded to the extent permitted by the resources available. In order to achieve a sustainable basis for the resources required for such work, in 2010 the Advisory Body for Genetic Resources decided to appoint a working group to examine the securing of long-term protection for genetic resources. The working group’s assignment covered agricultural and horticultural plants, forest trees and domestic animals. The working group found it necessary to examine whether the protection of genetic resources should be made statutory in order to secure a sustainable resource base for work with genetic resources. On the basis of this proposal, a report that was jointly commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment was completed in 2012. This report serves as a

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basis for actual legislative work. The project also examined the measures required from Finland in order to ratify the Nagoya Protocol of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

To safeguard native varieties, rapid measures and notification of the need to find seeds are required to save landraces of field crops, because these varieties are disappearing. Landraces can be registered as varieties of native plant species, in accordance with the decree on varieties of native plant species that entered into force in 2009 and which was extended to cover vegetables. The decree is based on the relevant EU directives. By

registering a variety of native plant species, the applicant is entitled to propagate and market the variety within the restrictions provided in the decree, such as a limited quantity of seed marketed each year. The main effect of maintaining a register of native plant species lies in preserving crop genetic diversity under cultivation conditions.

As yet, there is no clear insight into how the decree on varieties of native plant species is functioning, but at present it covers 13 varieties and growers (2011). Monitoring and assessment are therefore required with regard to the implementation of the decree. Agri-environmental subsidies should be extended so as to apply to the cultivation and conservation of native plant species, including horticultural plants (on-farm and in garden conservation), in the same way as to native breeds of domestic animals.

Permanent and adequate resources for the conservation of plant genetic resources require additional resource allocations to MTT Agrifood Research Finland, particularly for the maintenance of collections. According to a proposal by a sub-group of the National Advisory Body for Genetic Resources, MTT Agrifood Research Finland has an annual need for human resources amounting to 9.95 man-years, and for consumption expenditure of €333 000. Without resources and training, the involvement of various parties in conservation activities will be

challenging. The extensive use of plant genetic resources (as such, for research and plant breeding purposes), and the development of products and marketing measures are among the key measures contributing to the

sustainable use of genetic resources. Conditions for their implementation include diverse project activities and expert knowledge, and support for these.

Special support contracts for maintaining the cultivation of native plant species, based on the agri-environmental scheme, have proven insufficient to promoting in situ conservation on farms — only ten farmers have concluded a contract on maintaining the farming of an old landrace variety. The conditions of agri-environmental support for native plant species are considered to be too complicated and therefore farmers are not willing to cultivate such varieties. A special support scheme should also be prepared for the landrace varieties of horticultural plants. At present, they do not have any support scheme at all. So far, within agri-environmental support, we have not succeeded in drawing up support measures of this kind that the European Commission would be prepared to accept.

The form of support included in agri-environmental support and represented by breeding contracts and conservation programmes for native breeds has had a positive impact on the conservation of these breeds. In fact, it has facilitated a delay in, or has even prevented, the reduction in the population of certain breeds. In recent years, the population numbers of the Finnish landrace chicken, Åland sheep, Kainuu grey sheep, eastern and northern Finncattle and Finnish landrace goat have actually increased, while those of the Finnhorse and western Finncattle have remained unchanged and the numbers of the Finnsheep have decreased. The main reasons for the decrease in populations of native breeds have been output levels below those of dominant breeds, and changing agricultural practices.

Domestic forest trees grow on the northern fringes of their range. Experimental transfers have proven that tree origins and varieties transferred here from elsewhere cannot thrive in most cases. Forest trees are long-lived plants that have to endure high temperature variations in our current climate. In addition, climate change

requires greater capacity to adapt than before. Conservation of the genetic diversity of tree species is also vital to preparing for climate change. A sound legislative basis, so far lacking, must therefore be established to facilitate this.

The occurrence of sea trout (Salmo trutta) populations in headwater regions and their vicinity, and the possibilities for protection and use of these species (e.g. through pisciculture), should be assessed. Attention

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should also be paid to the conservation of brackish-water stocks of grayling (Thymallus thymallus) through pisciculture. If the volume of breeding fish stocks is reduced substantially, genetic diversity will suffer. As a consequence, the number of genetic forms maintained will decrease. The Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute maintains a live gene bank (brood fish stock) of 16 fish species or varieties and 54 different stocks, and a milt bank, storing male specimens of 12 fish species or varieties, and 42 different stocks. The majority of fish species bred are threatened. Conservation of threatened fish species is promoted through the Protection Strategy for the Saimaa salmon (2003) and management programme (2012), and the Protection Strategy for the Saimaa arctic char (2006). Management programmes are being prepared for the Vuoksi River lake brown trout and Vuoksi River grayling populations.

Measures, responsible bodies and target schedules

The aim is to ensure the conservation of diversity in crops and horticultural plants (landrace varieties in particular, and modified populations of old cultivars), and to secure resources for conservation activities. Conservation activities will be developed, both by enhancing conservation methods and by expanding the conservation

network. In addition, the coverage of high security storage will be increased. In order to promote conservation on farms, the possibilities for extending agri-environmental support to cover the protection of native plant species in farming too, will be examined, or other forms of support developed. In addition, an in situ conservation

programme for naturally occurring relatives of crops will be launched. In the long term, the sustainable use of agricultural plants and horticultural plants will be promoted by enhancing their availability and communication work on them, and by launching project activities to promote their utilisation.

It must be ensured that the landrace breeds of domestic animals do not become extinct, and that their genetic variation is preserved as extensively as possible. Efforts will be made to ensure a gene bank for cattle breeds.

Breeding subsidies for landrace breeds will hopefully continue. In order to maintain the genetic diversity of domestic animal breeds, taking into account the significance of each breed would be important to determining the amount of subsidy paid in each case. Breeding programmes should pay attention to the adaptation of landrace breeds to Finnish conditions. In addition, related competencies in domestic animal genetics, breeding and safeguarding the genetic resources of domestic animals, will be maintained and strengthened. Long-term conservation of genetic resources in forest trees and the sustainable use of these trees will be secured. The genetic diversity of Finland’s fish stock will be maintained.

86) The need for statutory regulation of the conservation and use of genetic resources in Finland will be examined and necessary measures will be taken according to such an analysis. With the help of the Rural Development Programme, the conservation of native varieties and breeds will be secured alongside the further processing of products based upon them.

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment (2013–2016)

87) An in situ conservation programme for naturally occurring relatives of crops will be launched.

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment (2013–2014)

88) Ensure the conservation of genetic diversity in forest trees in line with the national programme on plant genetic resources, taking into account the obligations listed in the international EUFORGEN programme and guidance from the National Advisory Body for Genetic Resources.

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (2013–2020)

89) Ensure the conservation of threatened native fish species and populations, while also conserving genetic diversity. Continue the maintenance of brood fish stocks (i.e. living gene bank) and frozen milt, with the aim of maintaining the broadest possible genetic diversity of brood fish stocks producing roe for stocking. Maintain the genetic diversity of economically significant fish stocks through a variety of measures, including regulation of

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fishing, restoration of water bodies, improvement of water quality and safeguarding the possibilities for fish migration between breeding and growing areas, while maintaining, and if necessary, increasing the numbers of brood fish stocks and the size of the milt bank.

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment (2013–2020)

90) Enhance the monitoring of genetic diversity of fish stocks and their sub-stocks. Reduce unwanted adaptations of populations that are raised at fish farms, through new farming methods and by renewing brood fish stocks.

Include measures for reducing the genetic erosion of fish stocks caused by fishing and stocking activity, as part of management plans for fish stocks.

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (2013–2020)