OO. 3.5 Adopt an integrated strategy for ex situ conservation of biodiversity together with measures for its implementation

Belgium houses extensive ex situ collections of endangered varieties, breeds and species originating both from within the country and worldwide. They are preserved in seed banks, gene banks, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens and collections of museums and various research institutes. Belgium also takes part in several international initiatives aiming to cooperate in the area of ex situ conservation (i.e. Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro-organisms, the International Association of Zoos, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

The development of an integrated strategy will provide a framework to facilitate harmony between existing initiatives aimed at ex situ conservation, to identify gaps where new initiatives are required, and to promote obilisation of the necessary resources. Among other things, research and management capability of ex situ conservation facilities should be enhanced. In developing such a strategy, the guidance of various international commitments initiatives should be taken into consideration (CBD Art. 9, the targets for 2010 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation in CBD Decision VI/9, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, etc.).