www.fao.org/climatechange The presentation was delivered by Irene Hoffmann, Chief of the Animal Genetic Resources Branch in FAO, on Day 3 of the Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans Workshop, 5-7 April 2016, Rome, Italy. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Voluntary guidelines to support the
integration of genetic diversity into national
climate change adaptation planning
Dr Irene Hoffmann
Secretary, Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(CGRFA)
Global Capacity Development Workshop:
Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans
5-7 April 2016, FAO, Rome, Italy

2. Genetic resources
• Crucial in maintaining and improving agricultural productivity,
rural livelihoods, sustainability and resilience
• Need for
• new and different crop, animal, forestry and fish types in many if not
most production systems (breeding, access)
• increased tolerance to abiotic stresses (characterization)
 Complementary conservation strategy of ex situ and in situ techniques
 Secure and mobilize as part of climate change adaptation

3. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

4. The Commission’s cycle of work
Assessment
Policy
response
Country
Implementation
Monitoring
CGRFA
Country
Reporting

5. Guidelines
• Objectives:
• promote the use of genetic resources for food and
agriculture in climate change adaptation and support
their integration into national climate change
adaptation planning;
• support the genetic resources experts and those
involved in climate change adaptation, to identify and
address the challenges and opportunities of genetic
resources for food and agriculture in adaptation; and
• promote the involvement of genetic resources
stakeholders in the national climate change
adaptation planning process

6. Outline
I. Introduction
II. Rationale
III. Objectives and principles
IV. Elements and steps
Appendix I The importance of genetic resources for adaptation
Appendix II Global Plans of Action for animal, forest and plant
genetic resources - selected actions of relevance to
the implementation of the guidelines
Appendix III Indicative activities for consideration in
implementation plans

8. Genetic resources in NAP-GSP
• How to get started:
• Involve National Focal Points for genetic resources
• Link specific steps of the national work plan to the guidelines
• Consider the different instruments related to genetic resources:
• Global assessments and your Country Reports
• Global Plans of Action and their national implementation
• Coordination: between genetic resources sectors and at national
level, with links to NAP mechanisms

9. For more information see:
www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/climatechange
Contact: cc-cgrfa@fao.org