Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

In total, 81 ecosystems have been recorded in the country [ ] 223 The conservation of genetic resources through the National Gene Bank In the past decades, Tunisia has made considerable efforts towards the con- servation of plant and animal genetic resources and the fight against ge- netic erosion, an objective inscribed in Aichi target 13. Aside from the creation of many botanical gardens, arboretums and living collections, one of the most significant actions in this domain has been the estab- lishment, in 2007, of a National Gene Bank (NGB). The NGB’s principal mission is the conservation of genetic resources of plants, animals and microorganisms, as well as coordination between the different operators in the field, the promotion of conservation activities, and the sustainable uses of genetic resources. Its work also serves to fight against genetic erosion and the irreversible disappearance of local genetic resources. The NGB has nine thematic groups: cereals and pulse; forage plants; fruit trees; vegetable crops, condiments and flowers; forest and pastoral plants; medicinal and aromatic plants; microorganisms; marine genetic resources; and ornamental plants. Since its creation, the NGB has carried out many programmes of col- lection, and the characterization and conservation of genetic resources. It has also participated in the duplica- tion and conservation of collections held in research institutions as well as the repatriation of local genetic resources held in international gene banks and institutions. The NGB currently conserves near- ly 40,000 accessions of plant genetic resources. A majority of these are reserved for cereals because of their strategic importance in terms of food security and socio-economic aspects. For example, since 2007, the thematic group on cereals and pulse carried out the collection and repatriation followed by the characterization and conservation of 11,759 accessions of cereals including durum wheat, com- mon wheat, and barley. The NGB also coordinates participatory conserva- tion actions for local genetic resources of durum wheat by over 50 farmers. Ksar Ghilane, Tunisia Tunisia L ocated in North Africa, Tunisia covers 163,610km². Despite its relatively small size, it has a rich biological diversity due to its geographical location between Europe and Africa, at the level of the Strait of Sicily, as well as because of its varied climate, geology and relief. In the north, the territory contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains, as well as vast and arid steppes. The country’s 1,300 km-long coast along the Mediterranean features lagoons, tombolos and sand beaches on the northern and eastern borders on the country. The whole southern part of the country is desert land (40 per cent of the territory), marked by a succession of chotts — El Gharsa, El Jerid, El Fejaj — rocky plateaus and dunes. Jérôme Prax on Unsplash