SAVE Foundation

SAVE Foundation
Foundation
Founded 1993
Headquarters Konstanz
Area served
 Europe
Website www.save-foundation.net

SAVE Foundation (Safeguard for Agricultural Varieties in Europe) was founded 1993 as a European NGO that acts as an umbrella organisation for the conservation of agrobiodiversity in Europe.[1]

Aims and Tasks

The SAVE Foundation acts as European umbrella organization for the promotion and coordination of activities for the conservation of endangered breeds of domestic animals and cultivated plant varieties in the form of live populations.[2]

Collection and dissemination of information as well as coordination and support of national activities are the main focuses. In various countries, national organizations still need to be established or expanded. Additionally, enormous tasks present themselves in Eastern and Southeastern Europe where agriculture is experiencing radical restructuring. Conservation projects are realized primarily in situ / on farm.[3]

Successful on-farm conservation requires the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. Through participatory action, the SAVE Foundation actively engages with stakeholders at all levels to ensure that interests are respected and balanced. The SAVE Foundation works with governmental and intergovernmental bodies, universities, gene banks, breeders’ and farmers’ associations and other NGOs promoting conservation.[4]

European Networks and Databases

Arca-Net

Is an internet portal for the networking and promotion of institutions in Europe showing rare breeds and historical plants to the public, as ark-farms, teaching farms, open air museums, animal parks, variety gardens etc.

Fruit-Net

For neglected and forgotten fruits and berries. A database with an inventory of the still existing varieties including a register of synonyms and active conservation organisations in Europe.

ELBARN

European Livestock Breeds Ark and Rescue Net co-financed by the EU-Commission in the frame of GenRes 870/2004 from 2007 to 2010. ELBARN's purpose is to create a network of centres showing rare breeds to the public and that can also act to rescue endangered rare breeds in emergency situations. Area action plans and special Ark- and Rescue centres have been located all over Europe. ELBARN includes an online database of Ark- and Rescue Centres (which are open for visitors), guidelines for rescue operations, and publications such as the ELBARN Book.

European Agrobiodiversity Network

The website lists contacts of individual national organisations and connects different activities in Europe. National, regional and European networks that are listed are all committed for the conservation of agrobiodiversity.

Publications

European Agrobiodiversity Day (EAD)

Awareness raising event about the importance of agrobiodiversity. There are various activities of the national organisations in the SAVE Network in their own countries.[5] The aim of the event is to inform consumers about rare breeds and varieties in each country, raise public awareness on the need for conservation and launch positive messages to governments.[6] The EAD is held always on Michaelmas, 29 September.

SAVE network partners

Regional organisations

National organisations

See also

References

  1. ↑ FAO 1994. Animal Genetic Resources Information 14, P. 27 ISSN 1014-2339 (PDF)
  2. ↑ SAVE Foundation. WiserEarth. Retrieved on 30 June 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.save-foundation.net/english/home.htm. Retrieved on 30 June 2011.
  4. ↑ SAVE Portrait(PDF). FAO. Retrieved on 30 June 2011.
  5. ↑ http://www.save-foundation.net/EAD/EAD_en.htm. Retrieved on 30 June 2011.
  6. ↑ News 2007-09-29. Club of Rome. Retrieved on 30 June 2011.

External links