CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON GENETIC RESOURCES IN THE CARIBBEAN ROLE OF GENETIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND UTILISATION

CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change refers to long-term changes in the weather pattern. The real threat of climate change lies in – Rapidity with which the changes occur – Unpredictability of weather patterns

ISLAND CARIBBEAN STATES The Caribbean islands are home to unique ecosystems and species, with unsurpassed biodiversity. Extremely vulnerable –fragmentation of habitat - small population sizes –invasive species –fires, hurricanes, floods

CLIMATE CHANGE IN ISLAND STATES OF THE CARIBEAN Sea level rises –loss of coastal ecosystems, coastal erosion, salination of arable lands Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes –flooding, wind damage, further fragmentation of habitats Increased frequency and severity of droughts –fires, crop losses.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS Ecosystems will become fragmented and population sizes reduced. Species extinction rates are already much higher in island states –Likely to be further aggravated by climate change. Species may require human intervention for survival.

AGRICULTURE SCENARIO Likely to be more severe in agriculture –Reliance on a few crops –No genetic variability within crops –No evolutionary flexibility of varieties –Reliance on imported varieties with poor adaptability –Modern varieties show limited plasticity –Seed production system not conducive to evolution

IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE Greater management interventions reqd –greater cost of production and poor profitability Greater agricultural risk due to unpredictable weather patterns. Lead to system of agriculture that is not sustainable. Implications to food security.

Genetic Resource Management Aims –Improve evolutionary flexibility to allow species and varieties to evolve to climate change (prevent extinction) –Reduce Agricultural Risk and Cost of Production Improving environmental flexibility by improving the stability of varieties Improve adaptability

Genetic Resource Management Species in natural ecosystems should be monitored for their health –genetic and biotechnology tools provide a system for monitoring. –Endangered species would require human intervention. –Conservation strategies for ecosystems.

Genetic Resource Management Indigenous crop species of the Caribbean should be collected and conserved –Adapted to the Caribbean, have the greatest genetic variability and hence evolutionary flexibility. Underdeveloped crops should be developed to provide a greater crop diversity

Genetic Resource Management Rethinking the crop ideotype Rethinking the population structure of varieties Rethinking our seed production systems

Genetic Resource Management Pre-breeding populations Reduce agricultural risk through breeding for tolerances Crop biotechnology Local more diversified breeding efforts

A Note of the Role of Biotechnology Biotechnology tools have provided a scientific basis for managing natural populations by studying the genetic diversity Provide means of adaptation to new stresses in short periods of time.

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