Conservation of plant genetic resources for sustainable development: a Nigerian perspective

Abstract

The paper discusses issues on conservation of plant genetic recourses in relation to sustainable development within a Nigerian context. It considers general concepts of the loss of biodiversity and various approaches to their conservation at the global level, focusing on major and minor food crops, underutilised species, wild relatives of food crops and diversity within species, which gives rise to crop varieties. The paper further situates conservation concerns within an Africa framework, highlighting current challenges and efforts at conservation across Africa. It examines the range of ecological zones in Nigeria, and their component abundance of plant genetic resources, as well as the threats and pressures that face them due to rapidly expanding human populations and the resultant urbanisation. Highlighting the significance of wild relatives of crop plants to the Nigerian plant genetic resources, it concludes by reviewing ex situ and in situ conservation activities in Nigeria and the need to provide a robust, long-term and environmentally sound basis for the conservation of plant genetic resources for sustainable development.