Happy 2011

Crataegus monogyna L. © E. Laguna, CIEF, 10.12.2010

From the blog of GENMEDA, we wish you a Happy New Year. Good seed harvesting and conservation during 2011

Seed banking for wild plant species became a big issue in the Greek news headlines!

Unfortunately, this summer we have had a very sad event: the burning from wild fire of the beautiful palm tree forest of Preveli (with the threatened species of Phoenix theophrasti) in South Central Crete, in August 2010.

We (the Mediterranean Plant Conservation Unit of MAICh) have contacted the Forest Directorate of Rethymno, one of the authorities responsible for the management of Preveli, and we informed them about the seedlot from Preveli preserved in the Seed Bank of MAICh (that could be used for reforestation or for the reinforcement of the population in Preveli); we have also made the point about the risk of transferring genetic material from the other population of Phoenix, since our studies so long have shown that there are genetic differences among the two populations and the diversity of Preveli should not be affected by that of Vai.

At the same time, we have published an article in a local newspaper of Chania about the seedlot of Phoenix theophrasti from Preveli we preserve in our seed bank, along with other endemic and threatened wild plants of Crete, the studies for the genetic diversity among populations, as well as some general things about the function of the seed bank. We took also the opportunity to speak about the networks of seed banks we participate in (GENMEDA and ENSCONET).
The same article has been also published to an important national newspaper and this has risen up a big public discussion about seed banking and also, about the way reforestations take place in Greece without taking into account the origin and the genetic identity of the material used.
The next days, we gave several interviews in other newspapers, in local and national radio stations and TV channels, and many people have been informed about the existence and the importance of seed banking wild plant species!

Fortunately for the site of Preveli, it seems that things are not that bad as initially thought... And probably no reforestation will be needed. The trees of Phoenix (and some other plant species) have already started to regenerate! Christina Fournaraki from our Unit and Prof. Costas Thanos from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have visited the site after the burning. You can have a look at the photos they made.

Now the area is under strict control and guarding; no grazing, no visitors, not any activity is allowed. Let’s hope that soon Preveli will become again the ‘paradise’ it used to be!

Panagiota Gotsiou & Christina Fournaraki

Mediterranean Plant Conservation Unit

Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh)

Photo Credits: MAICh and Prof. Costas Thanos

Genmeda is on the road

Now that it seems the summer is touching its end we are more than pleased to inform you all that Genmeda network continues as lively as the first day.

Since all the members liked the Ifedes Group´s (www.grupoifedes.com) proposal for our new website and concurred on working with them, we can happily say that the Genmeda webpage will be ready by the end of 2010.

The signing of the agreement for the creation of the net that took place last June was the starting point for what we hope it will be a long race. In this sense, the Communication working group has been successfully coordinating the joint efforts to carry out the relevant tasks for the development of the website.

Also, you can do your bit and make suggestions to include some contents that may be an added value to our web space´s launching pad. So, do not hesitate! They will be very welcome.

In parallel, Genmeda´s newsletter no. 5 will see the light very soon with a different name and look, Odissea Seminum. We hope this change of label is for good and brings a broader dissemination about Genmeda´s work. As the website is currently under construction it will be sent by email to all partners. Once again, your ideas will be gladly received for issue no. 6.

Barcelona Botanical Garden holds a successful meeting of the GENMEDA network

Instut Botànic de Barcelona, inside the Botanical Garden of the city, held the meeting of Genmeda network, 10/06/2010. © Emilio Laguna

On the occassion of the second edition of the Catalan Congress on Plant Conservation taking place in Barcelona last week, GENMEDA partners celebrated a decisive meeting which meant a big step forward for the setting up of the ambitious network.

By bringing back the two former projects (Genmedoc and Semclimed) as a sample of the essential collaboration and engagement, Antoni Marzo (CIEF) intended to present the goodness of a formal establishment to Genmeda, which has been, in any case, a common work scenario for the last years.

Antoni Marzo, coordinator of the Genmeda's first steps, introduced the network goals and procedures. ©Emilio Laguna, 10/06/2010

Gloria Ortiz (CIEF) piloted the meeting, making the presentation of key issues and moderating the group discussion. ©Emilio Laguna, 10/06/2010

In like manner, discussions were open to review the main controversial issues, such as, name of the network translated into all the partners' languages, layout of Odissea Seminum newsletter, website composition, importance of databases, candidates for network positions, working groups and last but not least, new members accession. In regards to these topics we reached the following applicable proposals:

- Board-meeting candidatures to be voted: Myriam Virevaire (President, CBNM Porquerolles), Anna Guglielmo (Secretary, DB University of Catania), Gloria Ortiz (Treasurer, CIEF).

- Centres/members of the Steering Committee proposals to be voted: Josep Lluís Gradaille (JB Soller), Gianni Bacchetta (CCB Cagliari), Josep M. Montserrat (JB Barcelone), Christina Fournaraki (MAICh) and Elena Estrelles (JB Valencia).

Representatives of JBUV (Elena Estrelles), CBNM (Myriam Virevaire), DBUC (Anna Guglielmo and Pietro Pavone) and CIEF (Pablo Ferrer, Antoni Marzo and Jesús Martínez), attending the meeting. © Emilio Laguna, 10/06/2010

- Working groups: 1) Communication and diffusion; 2) Genmeda's Database; 3) Ex situ culture collections; 4) Research (habitats preservation, molecular studies, etc.); 5) 'Relex' (external relations); 6) Strategic planning; 7) Virtual collection, index seminum, duplication, infosheets; and 8) Network’s future.

- General Assembly meeting will be held in Rome next May-June 2011 (date still to be fixed). Dr. Pietro Pavone kindly made first arrangements phoning their Roman colleagues during the current meeting.

Group picture including most of the meeting attendants, before starting the meal. © Emilio Laguna, 10/06/2010

In a nutshell, thanks to joint efforts and best practices, Genmeda network is a lively transnational network that will provide a shared stand for flora conservation actions.

Hopeful new year

2010 Greetings card sent by the Conservatoire Botanique Nationale de Porquerolles (CBNP)

We start 2010 with the engagement to go on with the true constitution of GENMEDA. Founder memberships have agreed during 2009 a convention, to be finally signed during the next months, so to effectively create GENMEDA as a formal platform of entities, devoted to plant conservation around the Mediterranean area. We expect thet 2010 will be the GENMEDA year¡¡¡