April 2014, IISD news - In the report, 'Conservation of fruit tree  diversity in Central Asia: Policy options and challenges,' Bioversity  International investigates the legal and policy frameworks affecting the  conservation of horticultural and wild fruit species' genetic diversity in  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The report summarizes the findings of a project implemented from 2005 to  2010, which focused on in-situ conservation and use of agricultural  biodiversity in Central Asia. The project report documents farmers'  natural coping mechanisms to assure the success of their crops, and in  particular, their reliance on the abundance of wild relatives of apple, pear,  plum, almond, pomegranate and grape. The report then discusses, for each focus  country, the effectiveness of national policies addressing agro-biodiversity  conservation, support for farmers' management of local varieties, and farmers'  rights.

The publication also outlines measures for protecting wild species and  landraces. These include: establishing protected areas; incentives for farmers  to conserve wild races; improved legislation for classification and management  of wild races as threatened and endangered species; land reform; seed  legislation and the recognition of intellectual property; and capacity building  for farmer-based conservation efforts.

The project was implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)  and Global Environment Facility (GEF), and coordinated by Bioversity  International, a member of CGIAR.

Source: http://forests-l.iisd.org/news/bioversity-international-examines-legal-frameworks-for-fruit-tree-conservation-in-central-asia/