scholarly journals Development of a Regional Focal Point for animal genetic resources: the European example

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
D. Planchenault ◽  
L. Ollivier

SummaryThis paper describes the process that lead to the creation of the European Regional Focal Point (ERFP). The action was suggested by the FAO Global Strategy (1995) aimed to assist countries to stop animal diversity erosion by helping them with a better use and preservation of their livestock resources.In 1997, France accepted the responsibility of developing an ERFP though its Bureau des Ressources Génétiques (BRG). During the first year, the ERFP held meaningful discussions with the different European countries with the objective of finding a general agreement for an organisational structure as well as a medium-term work programme. The following step was settled during the Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP) in Warsaw where it was agreed that the new body had to have a light structure and respect national sovereignty regarding the AnGR.In February 2000, following a difficult internal debate involving the establishment of a basic strategy and further steps, an enquiry was launched among the National Coordinators in order to have an overall picture and to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed organisation to be established. In 2000 during the 6th Workshop of the European NCs, the ERFP was created.The new structure is based ona) an Annual Meeting of National Focal Points;b) a Steering Committee; andc) a Secretariat to be elected among the National Focal Points to serve for a limited period.

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 15-35
Author(s):  
E. Martyniuk

AbstractThe paper provides an historical overview of conservation activities undertaken in Europe to maintain native livestock breeds, including the motivation and methods applied in conservation programmes and the contribution of various stakeholders. The current state of conservation activities is presented, based on reports provided by the National Coordinators on animal genetic resources (AnGR) during annual Workshops. These Workshops have been convened jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Association for Animal Production since 1995, and are conducted within the framework of the FAO Global Strategy for Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources. Analysis includes policy and legislation development, state and mode of financial support, conservation approaches and public awareness and education initiatives. The paper describes the establishment of the European Regional Focal Point for AnGR, its terms of reference, and ongoing and future activities. Questions regarding a vision of future needs and developments in AnGR are raised in this paper, both from a technical and policy context.


1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Salah Galal ◽  
Kleith Hammond

<p>Actualmente existen cerca de 3.972 razas de crianza incluidas en 28 especies de animales domésticos según estimativos del Banco Mundial de Datos de la FAO, las cuales contribuyen significativamente al bienestar material, social y cultural de la población humana. Se estima que el3o% de estas razas están en riesgo o peligro de extinción. El mantener la diversidad entre y en las especies, es crucial para el desarrollo actual y futuro de los sistemas sostenibles de producción animal. El marco de referencia general del Programa Global para el Manejo de los Recursos Genéticos Animales de la FAO (Programa de la FAO), está apoyado por el Convenio sobre Diversidad Biológica (CBD), por la Conferencia sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo de las Naciones Unidas (UnceD), realizada en Río de Janeiro en 1992 y por las recomendaciones hechas en varias reuniones realizadas entre gobiernos y con otras entidades. El Programa de la FAO colabora con los países en el estudio y la documentación de sus razas de crianza, en estrategias para su mejor utilización y conservación, de modo que sea posible su uso en el futuro y, además para facilitar el acceso a estos recursos genéticos únicos.</p><p>El Programa de la FAO incluye cuatro puntos básicos: 1) una estructura global dirigida en el país; 2) un mecanismo intergubernamental para controlar el progreso y el desarrollo de una política internacional; 3) un programa técnico de trabajo; y, 4) un grupo de expertos que asesoran el desarrollo del Programa . La función de la FAO es básicamente liderar, facilitar y, en general, coordinar e informar. La estructura física del Programa está compuesta por las Oficinas Centrales Nacionales en los países, por las Oficinas en las principales regiones y subregiones del mundo y por la Oficina Principal de la FAO en Roma. La estructura virtual del Programa está constituida por el Sistema de Información sobre Diversidad Animal Nacional (DAD-IS), disponible ahora en Internet. Actualmente la estructura está completa en Europa, comenzó con 12 países en Asia, está en proceso de formación en América y, en 1997, se iniciará en el Cercano Oriente.</p><p> </p><p><strong>The Global Program for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources</strong></p><p>At present there are 3-972 breeds for 28 domestic species according to FAO's Global Databank estimatives which are contributing significantly to the material, social and cultural welfare of the human population. It is estimated that 30% of these breeds are either at risk or endangered of becoming extinct. Maintaining diversity among and within species is crucial for the present and future development of sustainable animal production systems. The general framework of reference for the FAO Global Program for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAO Program for short) is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) endorsed by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Unced) held in Río De Janeiro in 1992 and recommendations made by various FAO intergovernmental and other forums. The FAO Program is aimed at assisting countries to survey and document their breeds of livestock, better utilize these breeds, maintain them for possible future use and access those unique genetic resources. The FAO Program comprises four components: a country driven global structure, an intergovernmental mechanism to effectively monitor progress and develop international policy, a technical program of work, and cadres of experts to help guide the Program development. FAO's role is that of leading, facilitating and globally coordinating and reporting. The Program physical structure is composed of National Focal points in countries, Regional Focal Points in the main world regions and sub­regions and a Global Focus at FAO, Rome. The virtual structure of the Program is that of the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), available now on the Internent. At present the structure has been completed for Europe, started with 12 countries in Asia, in the process of formation in the Americas and initiation will start in 1997 in the Near East.</p>


2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (02) ◽  
pp. 545-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. TRAMONTANA ◽  
L. GARDINI ◽  
D. FOURNIER-PRUNARET ◽  
P. CHARGE

We consider the class of two-dimensional maps of the plane for which there exists a whole one-dimensional singular set (for example, a straight line) that is mapped into one point, called a "knot point" of the map. The special character of this kind of point has been already observed in maps of this class with at least one of the inverses having a vanishing denominator. In that framework, a knot is the so-called focal point of the inverse map (it is the same point). In this paper, we show that knots may also exist in other families of maps, not related to an inverse having values going to infinity. Some particular properties related to focal points persist, such as the existence of a "point to slope" correspondence between the points of the singular line and the slopes in the knot, lobes issuing from the knot point and loops in infinitely many points of an attracting set or in invariant stable and unstable sets.


Author(s):  
Mary Rangel

Na perspectiva da Psicologia Social (no enfoque, moscoviciano, da representação), foram investigados conceitos e imagens do cotidiano popidar na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, conforme se apresentam em cartilhas adotadas em escolas públicas. Procurou-se, então, notar a possível influência da literatura citico-social da alfabetização (acentuada desde o final dos anos 70) que, entre outras questões, discute a dissociação entre conhecimento (escolar) e realidade, enfatizando o princípio de aprendizagens significativas e contextualizadas. Nas análises, confrontaram-se as representações com "indicadores sociais" do cotidiano, levantados em estudos sociológicos. Os resultados demonstraram a predominância de conceitos e imagens de situações que, não só se distanciam, como invertem as que se apresentam nos "indicadores ". Desse modo, permanece a constatação de que o mundo das crianças não encontra significado no mundo das cartilhas. Abstract In the perspective of Social Psychology (in the Moscovite focal point of the representation), concepts and images of the popular quotidian in Rio de Janeiro city have been investigated, as they present themselves in the spelling books adopted in public schools. One endeavoured, then, to note the possible influence of the critical-social literature of the first year of schooling (accentuated since the end of the 70s), which, among other matters, discusses the dissociation between knowledge (scholar) and reality, enphasizing the principle of significative and contextualized apprendticeships. In the analysis, the representations confront themselves with "social indicators" of the quotidian, raised up in sociologie studies. The results demonstrated the predominance of concepts and images of situations which not only keep away from, as well as invert the ones which present themselves in the "indicators ". Thus, endures the evidence that the world of the children does not find significance in the world of the spelling books. Résumé Sous la perspective de la Psychologie Sociale, d 'après Moscovici (1978), ont été analises concepts et images du quotidien populaire dans la ville de Rio de Janeiro, selon ils se présentent dans les abécédaires adoptés dans les écoles publiques. Nous avons cherché, alors, observer la possible influence de la littérature critique-sociale (accentuée dès le final des années 70) sur l'alphabétisation. Cette littérature, parmi d 'autres questions, discute la dissociation entre savoir (scolaire) et réalité, en emphatisant le principe des apprentissages significatifs et contextualisés. Dans les analyses se confrontent les représentations avec les "indicateurs " sociaux du quotidien, relevés dans les études sociologiques. Les résultats ont démontré la prédominance des concepts et des images de situations que, non seulement s'éloignent comme inversent celles qui se présentent dans les "indicateurs". Ainsi, il nous reste la constatation que le monde des enfants ne recontre pas de signification dans le motide des abécédaires. Resumen En la perspectiva de la Psicoligia Social (en el enfoque moscoviciano de la representación), se investigaron conceptos y imágenes de lo cotidiano popular en la ciudad de Rio de Janeiro, según se presentan en cartillas adoptadas en escuelas públicas. Se procuró observar la posible influencia de la literatura crítico-social de la alfabetización, incrementada desde finales de los años setenta, que, entre otros temas, discute la disociación entre conocimiento (escolar) y realidad, enfatizando el principio de aprendizajes significativos y contextuados. En los análisis se confrontali las representaciones con "indicadores sociales" de lo cotidiano, obtenidos en estudios sociológicos. Los resultados han demostrado la predominancia de conceptos e imágenes de situaciones que no sólo se alejan, sino que invierten las presentadas en los "indicadores ". De esta manera, permanece la constatación de que el mundo de los niños no encuentra sifnificado en el mundo de las cartillas.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
K. Ramsay

SummaryThe recent call from FAO to take part in the process of preparing the First Report on the State of the World Animal Genetic Resources (SoW) stressed the need to develop management capacity at country level to facilitate the preparation of country reports (CRs). A key role is played by the National Focal Points (NFPs) and the National Coordinators (NCs).A national workshop was held in South Africa in 1998 and a National Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FanGR) was established. The existing Indigenous Livestock Committee was reviewed and adapted to make it more focused on the management of FAnGR. At the same time a National Coordinator was also identified and the Animal Improvement Institute was nominated as national coordinating institute for FAnGR.The collaboration with some NGOs was strongly suggested, particularly with:a) the Farm Animal Conservation Trust (FACT), to assist with the conservation of farm animal genetic resources. This NGO was modelled on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) in the United Kingdom and on Rare Breeds International (RBI)b) The South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association (SASB) andc) many Rural Communities and National and Provincial animal genetic resource centresThe institutional frame for AnGR conservation in South Africa is briefly described, together with the aims of the South African conservation activities.


Author(s):  
Andrew L. Bloxom ◽  
Karl D. von Ellenrieder ◽  
Matthew R. Anderson ◽  
Ryan S. Mieras ◽  
William S. Weidle

The ability of submerged lens-shaped structures to focus linear surface waves in deep water is explored through a series of experimental tests in a wave making basin. Three lenses were designed using a combination of linear strip theory and a surface wave analogy to geometrical optics. Two of these lenses were designed to focus waves of a single wavelength of 0.482 m (18.97 in.), one with a focal length to lens width ratio (f-number) of 2.0 and the other with an f-number of 0.5. The third lens was designed to function as a compound lens that could focus a range of wavelengths of between 0.39 m (15.37 in.) and 0.694 m (27.32 in.) at an f-number of 2.0. Using resistance wave height gauges, the sensitivity of wave height at the focus to variations in wavelength from between 0.39 m (15.37 in.) to 0.61 m (24.01 in.) was experimentally measured for all three lenses; the sensitivity of wave height at the focus to variations of lens depths of submergence spanning the range of between 0.75 to 1.25 times the design submergence depth was also explored for the two simple lenses. It was found that the linear strip theory and geometrical optics approach predicted the wave amplification to within ten percent at the design wavelengths and depths, but that the longitudinal position of the experimentally observed focal lengths differed substantially from that expected, by as much as a factor of 2.2 for an f-number of 0.5. Additionally, while the theory predicted a single focal point for each lens, multiple focal points were found to exist behind the compound lens.


2007 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Pilling

SummarySome countries have introduced a requirement for genetic impact assessments prior to granting permission for the import of new exotic livestock breeds. However, the merits of such a system are not universally accepted. During February 2007 a discussion on the subject took place on FAO's Domestic Animal Diversity Network (DAD-Net) electronic forum. This paper presents a description of how the discussion developed, and a summary of the issues raised. Arguments both for and against requiring impact assessments were put forward. Those opposing such measures focused on the risks of limiting access to animal genetic resources (AnGR), and questioned the benefits of government interference. Practical constraints to implementation and enforcement were also noted. Counter arguments pointed to the potential for avoiding the loss of valuable AnGR, and stressed governments' responsibilities to intervene where necessary to promote sustainable development, to defend the interests of the poor, or to protect national heritage. The debate ranged more widely — encompassing the respective roles of local and exotic AnGR in different regions of the world and in different production systems.


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 178-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Stachurska ◽  
A. Brodacki ◽  
J. Grabowska

The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of alleles which produce coat colours in Hucul horse population in Poland. The breed is included in the Global Strategy for Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources, hence its gene pool should remain in unaltered state. Huculs are bay, black, blue dun, yellow dun, tobiano, and chestnut. Grey and chestnut Huculs have always been undesirable. The material consisted of all 1022 matings which resulted in subpopulations recorded in Studbook volumes. The recessive allele frequency was estimated as the square root of recessive genotype frequencies in ASIP (A), MC1R (E), DUN (D), KIT (To region), and STX17 (G) loci. The frequency in A and E loci in total parental generation was also estimated in test matings. Genotype distribution in the population was anticipated according to gamete frequency in sires and dams. Small Wahlund effect, F<sub>ST</sub>and &chi;<sup>2</sup> values for allele distributions show that division into subpopulations did not influence the population genetic structure significantly. Mean recessive allele frequency in A, E, D, To, and G loci amounted to 0.521, 0.115, 0.878, 0.929, and 0.997, respectively, and in A and E loci it was similar to that assessed in test matings. More bay horses and fewer D diluted horses appeared in offspring than expected. A, e, d, and To allele frequency showed a rising tendency. The genetic structure in Hucul population is not constant and does not comply strictly with the preservation aim. Bay, non-diluted, and tobiano horses are preferred. The linkage between MC1R and KIT loci can make the selection against e allele difficult. Breeders&rsquo; preferences may lead to undesired changes in the allele frequency. To avoid such risk, it is recommended to select horses strictly complying with the rules included in the breeding programme and mate the horses randomly from this aspect. &nbsp;


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