Securing the genetic resource base of Indigenous plants species: A Community Biodiversity Conservation Initiative

Summary
We have assisted communities develop home gardens for important wild plants species. Our cost effective seed/gene saving initiative have helped communities conserved, restored, revitalized local crop species and varieties critical for the community's survival.
Classifications
Region
Scale of implementation
Ecosystem
Theme
Challenges
Sustainable development goals
Other targets
Business engagement approach
(I)NDC Submission
Challenges
Biodiversity is critical for food security and nutrition. Sadly, human impacts are accelerating loss. Indigenous plants hold the potentials to scale up Food Security/ Nutrition and biodiversity conservation due their potential contribution in preventing malnutrition, obesity and diet-related disorders. Sadly most of them are localized and may even go extinct before they are even discovered, disappearing with them their enormous Indigenous knowledge.
Beneficiaries
We have developed home gardens for important wild plants species. Our cost effective seed/gene saving initiative have helped communities conserved, restored, revitalized local crop species and varieties critical for the community's survival.
Building blocks
¿ Cómo interactúan los building blocks en la solución?
Our approach connect in a unique way as we were able to connect communities to Indigenous plants conservation. In promoting conservation of indigenous plants, we have offered opportunities for responsible forest management and business development at community level. Thus, armed with these tools, community members could achieve industry specifications/requirements as well as access new markets. In all, we have created a local base healthy ecosystems which greatly facilitated economic growth not only within the Forest Community but beyond the community through trade of products. With decent packaging techniques, locals have seen sales even on the shelves of super malls in urban areas. This has ensured that local biodiversity products are marketable.
Impacts
Biodiversity is critical for food security and nutrition. Indigenous plants hold the potentials to scale up food security/nutrition and biodiversity conservation due their potential contribution in preventing malnutrition, obesity and diet-related disorders. Sadly, most of them are localized and may even go extinct before they are even discovered, disappearing with them their enormous Indigenous knowledge. we are building community resilience taking into account indigenous knowledge which has over time played an important role in shaping their existence. In doing this, communities have coped with the threats to food/nutrition security and biodiversity loss reducing venerability. In maximizing the potential of Indigenous Food Species, we have built community confidence and perception on socio-economic factors in their environment influenced their attitude/behavior. We have shown a link between Good Nutrition which these indigenous plants bring and health of the Environment and Forests around these communities. Irrespective of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our food systems, seed saved in the Community Seed Bank was able guarantee continuity in the supply and distribution of seeds which represented major boater to creating resilient local food-systems at the community.
Story
As a little boy, I have always been amazed of how Charles Darwin came about his theories. I have realized that his theories were not based on high academic knowledge but the simple fact of his “LOVE for NATURE” complimented by his “NATURAL INSTINCTS” for observation. Growing up, I found that I also had passion for nature conservation and my training as a plant scientist increased my skills for monitoring flora biodiversity. In my quest to be that “Better Naturalist” I picked up interest in communicating biodiversity issues to local people. These where the “Aha” moments leading to my science for community development goals. I want to see my research projects not only have scientific impacts but also rural community development impacts.
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