Outside protected areas
A broad definition of extra-PA in situ conservation could be:
“the location, management and monitoring of genetic diversity of natural wild populations in informal in situ conservation sites”
Extra-PA in situ conservation sites CWR conservation would only be likely to be established where there were healthy existing CWR populations (excluding certain exceptions). In general, areas outside PAs with high levels of biodiversity are also areas suitable for agro-silvicultural or some other form of commercial exploitation, therefore, frequently the conservation will need to liaise with human activities.
When the genetic reserves are planned to be located outside protected areas, the different habitats and land cover units amenable for genetic reserves must be assessed. The key to management would be to maintaining the existing site management, making no substantial or sudden site management changes that might negative impact the CWR populations and therefore the target taxon population diversity.
Key consent
Land stewardship and conservation agreements (with public and private landowners) would need to be established. In these sites the conservationist would rarely directly manage the site but may influence site management providing incentives to sustain current site management. Periodic monitoring would be required to ensure genetic diversity maintenance and avoid the loss of target populations.
It should note that the landowner or manager partners in the conservation agreement may not be environmental and agricultural stakeholders, but stakeholders from the culture/museum sector, thus the approach could be a little changed.