Biodiversity Germplasm

1. Martín Villalba
Environmental Engeneer
Representative of Paraguay
TAIPÉI, TAIWÁN
JUNE, 2013

2. CURRENT SITUATION OF BIODIVERSITY
 Paraguay has 125 species currently included in the
2003 Red List of Endangered Species catalogued
by the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN). Of these, 100 are animals and 25
are plant species. The three species listed as
critically endangered are birds. Thirteen species are
considered endangered. The remainder is
considered lower risk, near threatened or
vulnerable. Some 17 species are listed as data
deficient. Table 4 lists the relative numbers of
species and numbers considered threatened or of
concern by CITES and IUCN:

4. FLORISTIC DIVERSITY
 Currently, it is estimated that the number of plant species in
the country would be about 13.000, although other studies
suggest that would reach 20.000
 It is difficult to determine the exact number of endemic plant
species in Paraguay because flora studies are in progress.
Preliminarily, we can say that almost all of the species are
endemic to the Cuenca del Plata and many of them endemic
to Paraguay. For example, it is important to note that of the
156 common tree species, 107 (69%) are regional endemics
shared with neighboring countries

5. FAUNAL DIVERSITY
 The faunal diversity reflects the variety of
ecosystems in the country. Estimating the
existence of about 100.000 invertebrate
species and 1233-1336 of vertebrates
species.
 Ichthyofauna (Fish)
 Herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles)
 Avifauna (Birds)
 Mastofauna (Mammals)

6. THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREAS
 The National Protected Areas System (SINASIP)
began its development in 1988. The identification of
23 priority potential areas was achieved by the
Conservation Data Center with the support of The
Nature Conservancy and a Peace Corps technical
volunteer. Following this process, they prepared the
seminal document laying the groundwork for a
protected areas system in Paraguay–the Strategic
Plan of the National Protected Areas System
(SINASIP), presented in 1993. This plan considered
priorities from several different perspectives including
ecological value, potential environmental services,
institutional and administrative capacity, among
others.

7. TYPES OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS
 In addition to national parks, the country has many
other types of protected areas allowed under the
Protected Areas Law of 1993 which established the
categories of areas considered to be part of the
system. The system or SINASIP encompasses many
categories of areas beyond the six categories
established by the IUCN. It incorporates public,
private, and special protected areas with the recent
addition of Biosphere Reserves in Mbaracayú and the
Chaco (proposed to UNESCO in 2004). The so-called
special management areas are managed by the bi-
national entities that operate the Itaipú and Yacyretá
dams between Paraguay and the neighboring
countries of Argentina and Brazil on the Paraná River

9. STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF
PROTECTED AREAS

10. ECOREGIONS
1. Ecoregions for
the Eastern
Region:
• Eco Aquidaban region
• Eco Amambay region
• Eco Alto Paraná
region
• Eco Central Selva
region
• Central Coast
ecoregion
• Eco Ñeembucú region
2. Ecoregions for
the Western
Region:
• Eco Medanos region
• Eco Cerrado region
• Eco Pantanal region
• Humid Chaco
ecoregion
• Eco Dry Chaco region

11. CONVENTIONS RATIFIED BY PARAGUAY
 1973 - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
fauna and
 flora (CITES).
 1986 - Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and
natural
 heritage.
 1992 - The Vienne convention for the protection of the ozone layer.
 1993 - United Nations framework convention on climatic change.
 1993 - Convention on biological diversity.
 1993 - The Ramsar Convention on wetlands.
 1995 - United Nations convention to combat desertification.
 1996 - Convention for the protection of new varieties of plants.
 1996 - Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild
animals.
 1998 - Protocol of Kyoto of the United Nations framework convention on
climatic change.
 1999 - Amendment to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete
the ozone layer.
 1999 - Gaborone amendment to the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered
 Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

13. MAJOR ADVANTAGES
INTERAGENCY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION INITIATIVES
Public Sector:
 The National Forestry Bureau (1999)
 Interinsitucional Consortium for the systematization of the
flora and fauna of Paraguay
 National Wetlands Committee
 Commission of Biosafety and Biotechnology (1997)
 The National Council for Science and Technology (2002)
 International Cooperation (WWF, GIZ, UN, JICA, USAID,
WCS, CI, FAO, many others)
 Environmental Management Planning (SEAM)

14. MAJOR ADVANTAGES
INTERAGENCY COOPERATION INITIATIVES
Private Sector:
 The nongovernmental sector is leading the establishment
of new conservation figures private hands. Among them
are conservation easements.
These consist of civil agreements between two or more
owners, in which a property agree, voluntarily, to plan the
future use of their natural resources in order to preserve
them and grant benefits to the other property. It has now
been begun the process of establishing easements Itapúa
departments, Guairá and Alto Paraguay.
Other private figures seeking the conservation and
sustainable use of natural resources including ecological
leases or condominiums, co-ownership, loan, usufruct of
conservation between others, that have been implemented
primarily in the Reserve of San Rafael Managed
Resources.

15. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
 Changing land use
 Deforestation
 Lumbering
 Urban sprawl
 Hunting of wildlife species
 Plant trade
 Fishing indiscriminate
 Infrastructure development
 Construction of dams
 Salinization
 Exotic and invasive species

16. BUDGETS FOR PROTECTED AREAS

17. NATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY
RESEARCH
The capabilities of the country to carry out research
on biological diversity are restricted, and most of
this capacity is limited to taxonomic study. The
country has three collection sites and internationally
recognized taxonomic study:
 The Herbarium and Collection of Vertebrates and
Invertebrates National Museum Natural History
SEAM dependent;
 The Herbarium of the Botany Department of the
School of Chemical Sciences (UNA)
 The Herbarium History of the Municipality of
Asuncion.

18. GENETIC RESOURCES
 The national authorities responsible for work related to
research, management and conservation of germplasm
is the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and
the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (UNA). In the
Regional Agricultural Research Centre and the National
Agronomic Institute , both under the MAG, you have the
physical infrastructure required for the conservation of
germplasm.
 The activities in this area focus on collection projects,
regeneration, characterization and investigation of
diverse germplasm, including locote, native corn,
cassava, soybeans, wheat, sorghum and sunflowers,
among others.

20. TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT OF PLANNING
 We are the leading government institution for planning,
coordinate, evaluate, design and promote actions
leading to sustainable development of the country,
providing guidelines, studies, information and technical
assistance for the formulation and implementation of
plans and policies aimed at the welfare of the
population, within the framework of the principles of
equity, participation and social and environmental
responsibility.

21. FUNCTIONS
 Develop overall development goals, by sector and region,
coordinate projects and programs in the Public sector and
horn action of private with government action, establishing
the General Plan and Development Plans by Sectors and
Regions.
 Define and / or promote in coordination with the respective
public policies derived from sectoral plans, territorial and / or
national.
 Develop and implement processes and products of planning
and public policies that allow the realization of the strategic
vision of the country.
o To organize and support the
development of diagnostics and
studies at national, sectoral and
intersectoral.

22. POSITION AT WORK
Directorate
General of
Planning and
Public Policy
Environmental
Development
Division
Economic
Development
Division
Social
Development
Division
Sectoral Policy
Address

23. WHAT WE WHAT FROM THE NSOFP
 Plan, organize, direct and control all activities
necessary to prepare Plans and Policy, in order to
institutionalize the National Planning System,
proposing rules and actions for compliance.
 To organize and support the development of
diagnostics and studies at national, sectorial and
inter sectorial.
 Define and promote in coordination with the
respective public policies derived from sectorial
plans, territorial and / or national.

24. NATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY
RESEARCH
The country does not have a Taxonomic Reference
Center to develop conservation policies based on
relevant scientific studies. Currently, the taxonomic
work performed in the two first institutions
mentioned.
Regarding the private sector, many environmental
NGOs perform identification fieldwork of species of
flora and fauna, based on the methodology of rapid
ecological assessments, which does not
necessarily involves making strict taxonomic work.

25.  Establishing a National Plant Genetic Resources
Programme, which is set within the same action
and include agricultural species and their close
relatives, forage species and popular consumer
species indigenous medicinal and forest species
present and potential use
 Identify funding sources that enable the provision
and equipment facilities required for adequate ex
situ conservation and the means to monitor the in
situ conservation (Parks and Forest Reserves)
NATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR GERMPLASM
CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURCES

26.  Set the priority training areas and obtain the
necessary resources to strengthen specialization
programs at the master's and doctoral degrees in
the area of ​​plant genetics with emphasis on
development, evolution and conservation of plant
species
 Create a legal basis allowing for Institutional
management of plant genetic resources
 Implement and strengthen national and sub
regional conservation and use of genetic resources
NATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR GERMPLASM
CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURCES

27.  Generate national and sub regional mechanisms that
allow ongoing maintenance and improvement of
existing infrastructure and as raising funds to create
infrastructure programs will to be managed with a
long-term strategy for the conservation of genetic
resources in the most appropriate.
 To guide conservation actions in the sub regional,
prioritizing areas with the greatest diversity of plant
genetic resources in the past not properly treated or
they do not have enough resources human or
financial.
NATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR GERMPLASM
CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURCES

28.  Collect of priority fodder plant species,
medicinal, of agricultural interest for future use
and forest species, counting for the effect with
a sub-regional vision and the use of specialists
of the highest level possible to achieve the
mission. To characterize this germplasm
through traditional methods and
unconventional techniques.
NATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR GERMPLASM
CONSERVATION OF PLANT RESOURCES

29. THANKS FOR YOUR ATENTION