E d i t o r i a lThisisthefirstissueoftheMEDUSANewsletter devotedtoinformation abouttheplantl ifeoftheMediterraneanregionand themanywaysinwhichit isused inhuman activities. Itwillincludearticles andnotesabouttheplants,theorganizationsinvolvedintheirstudy,utilization andconservation,projectsand initiatives,newsofmeetingsheldandforthcomingandnoticesofbooksandrelevant newliterature.

TheMediterraneanbasin hasbeenthecradleofsuccessivecivilizationsandalsooneofthemajorcentresoforiginanddiversification o f m any plantsofagriculture.Nowhereelseonthisplanethavehumansbeensocloselyandintimately associated withtheenvironmentandperhapsnowhereelsehasthelandsodeeplyinfluencedhuman behaviourandculture: inturnthesehaveshapedthepast andpresentlandscapesthroughtranshumance,agriculture,fellingoftheforests,grazing, fire,terracing, urbanization,tourism andpollution. Thesefabledshoreshouseabouttenpercent of theworld'stotaloffloweringplantsandfernsin 1.6percentoftheearth'slandsurfaceand abouthalfoftheseareendemictotheregion.

TheMEDUSANetwork of theMediterranean Region wasestablishedbyCIHEAM-MAICh,withthesupportofthe EuropeanUnionDirectorateGeneral I, fortheidentification, conservationand

sustainableuseofthewild plantsoftheMediterraneanRegion. TheNetworkcomprises National FocalPointCoordinators fromthecountriesoftheregionand alsoincludesrepresentativesofinternational organizations(CIHEAM-MAICh, I UBS, FAO,IPGRI-WANA,LEAD)thatformtheSteering Committee. Already ithasheldtwo regionalworkshops,thefirstinChania,Greece on28-29June1996on'Identificationofwild food andnon-foodplantsoftheMediterraneanRegion'andthesecondinHammam-Sousse,Tunisiaon1-3 May 1997 o n ' Wildfood andnon-foodplants-Information Networking' at which aseriesofcountryprofileswerepresented a n d wi l l b e i ncludedintheProceedingsofthemeeting.The ProceedingsofthefirstWorkshophavejustbeenpublished(see NewPublications). Alistofpriorityspecieshas been compiledandthattoo will be availableshortly. Plansarein hand f o r thedesignandestablishmentofanInteractiveRegional InformationSystem(MEDUSAIRIS)anddetailsoftheseandotheractivitieswill begiveninforthcomingissuesof t h i s Newsletter.TheaimofthisNewsletter iscommunicationofinformationandall readersareinvitedtosubmitshort articles, newsornotesthatwouldhelp achievethis. Welcometo M E DUSA!

ERNON EYWOODV HEditorandChairoftheMEDUSASteering Committee

June 1997

Issue 1

Insidethis Issue

Editorial

NewsfromMEDUSA

Fifteenyearsof

Spanishethnobotanygroups

A centreforon-farmconservationontheislandofLinosa(Italy)

TheIUCNMediterraneanIslandGroup

WildplantsofTunisia:their conservationanduse

BibliographicresearchintheMaghreb

GeneticresourcesinitiativesinItaly

ActivitiesofMAICh

TBAM structureandactivities

Country News

CountryPresentations

NewsfromOrganisations

Newsandnotes

Bookreviews

Forthcomingevents

Reportsofmeetings

FloraIberica

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TheFirstRegionalWorkshop,June 1996, Chania,Greece

Publicationand distribution of aleaflet

ListofPriority species

TheProceedingsof theFirstRegionalWorkshophavebeen edited byV.Heywood(Emeritus Professor,UniversityofReading,UK, ChairmanoftheSteeringCommitteeofMEDUSANetwork) andM.Skoula(MAICh,Executive SecretaryofMEDUSANetwork).Thiswillbepublishedin theCahiersOptionsMediterraneensSeries:Title:

Aleafletannouncing theestablishmentoftheMEDUSANetwork, itsaims,objectivesandintentions,includinginformation onthedatainformationsystemandthepublicationoftheNewsletterwaspublishedanddistributedto expertsrelated withtheMediterraneanRegi on.Thedistributionof t henewsletterwasdonebyMAICh,bytheFocal PointCoordinators(FPCs)andbythemembersoftheSteeringCommittee.

Aspecificquestionnairetoestablishthepriorityspeciesoftheregionwasdesigned, following theuse categoriesasdefinedin theMEDUSAobjectives.Itwasdistributedandcompletedbymost ofthecurrentcountriesmembersoftheNetwork.Countrymembershave been askedtoselectthe100mostlywidelyused speciesoftheircountry.The dataobtainedfromthequestionnaireshavebeenenteredintoadatabase(ACCESS 2.0)heldatMAICh.Currentlyi tholdsapproximatelyc.1200entriesthatcorrespondtoc.600 differenttaxabutfurtherdatahavestilltobeadded.Thedatabaseiscurrently beingeditedandpreparedforpublication.

IDENTIFICATIONOF WILDFOODANDNON-FOODPLANTSOFTHE M E DITERRANEANREGIONPages:165,Volume 23,Year1997,ISSN no:1022-1379,400copieswillbeprinted(publicationexpected July1997)

TheSecond Regional WorkshopofMEDUSANetwork

SteeringCommittee

Country Members (FocalPointCoordinators)

ThesecondMEDUSAWorkshop washeldinPortElKantaoui, TunisiaonMay1st-3rd,1997.Itwasattendedbyrepresentativesfrom11MeduterraneancountriesandbyrepresentativesofvariousinternationalorganizationssuchasFAO,IUCN,ICUCandICMAP.AnumberofscientificpresentationsweremadeandCountryReportson thewildplant resourcesandGovernmental andNon-GovernmentalOrganizationsinvolvedin anyaspectsof theirstudy,cultivation,sustainableuse, conservation ofplantgeneticresourcesusedorofpotentialuseinagriculture, andhabitatconservationandrestor ation,werepresented. TheProceedingsareinpreparation.

Mrs.MelpoSKOULA-JOHNSON,ExecutiveSecretaryMediterranean AgronomicInstituteatChania,

Prof.VernonH.HEYWOOD,ICMAPandDIVERSITASSchool ofPlantSciences,TheUniversityofReading,UK,Chair

Mr.PeterGRIFFEE,FAO,AGPC, Rome,ITALY

Ass.Prof.L.JanSLIKKERVEERLeiden University,InstituteofCultural andSocialStudies,Leiden,THENETHERLANDS

Dr.YousefBARKOUDAHIPGRI-WANAoffice, SYRIA

Mr.AlkinoosNIKOLAIDISMediterranean AgronomicInstituteatChania,

Mrs.ZahiaHOUMANIUniversitedeBlida,Instituted'AgronomieProf.LahouabiABEDCentreHospitalo-Universitaire,Hopital PARNET, Alger

Prof.MohammedYOUNESHAGGAGDepartmentofPahrmacognosy,FacultyofPharmacy,UniversityofCairo, Cairo

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Dr.AgnesVANNEREAULaboratoiredeBotanique etPhytochimie, FacultedePharmacie, Chatenay-MalabryDr. JamesMOLINAConservatoireBotaniqueNationalMediterraneendePorquerolles,InstitutBotanique, Montpellier

Ass.Prof.GregoriosIATROUUniversity ofPatras, Department ofBiology,DivisionofPlant Biology,PatrasAss.Prof.EugeniosKOKKALOUAristotleUniversityofThessaloniki,SchoolofPharmacy,Dept.Pharmacognosy, Thessaloniki

Dr. DomenicoPIGNONEGermplasm Institute,NationalResearchCouncil, Bari

Prof.MohammedHMAMOUCHIUniversitee MohammedV, FaculteedeMedecineetdePharmacie,PlantMedicinalesetAromatiques,RabatProf.MohammedFENNANEInstitutScientifique,Agdal,Rabat

Prof.AntonioProencaDACUNHADepartment ofPharmacognosy,University ofCoimbra,Coimbra

Prof.Diego RIVERANUNEZUniversidad deMurcia,DepartamentodeBotanica,Facultadde Biologia,MurciaDrFranciscoCentrodeEdafologiayBiologiaAplicadadelSegura,Lab.Fitoquimica,Murcia

Prof.RachidCHEMLIFacultedePharmaciedeMonastir,LaboratoiredePharmacognosie-Phytotherapie,Monastir

Prof.K.Husnu Can BASERMedicinalandAromaticPlantandDrug, ResearchCentre(TBAM),AnadoluUniversity,Eskisehir

DrAyseKITIKIAegeanAgriculturalResearchInstitute,MedicinalandAromaticPlantsSection,Izmir

TOMAS BARBERAN

June1997

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MEDUSA Newsletter

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F i f t e e n y e a r so f t h e F l o r ai b e r i c a p r o j e c t

Gonzalo Nieto F eliner,RealJardinBotanico,MadridFifteenyears after theprojectbegan,theFloraIbericaprojecthaspublishedaround32%ofthetotalnumberofvascularplantspeciesthatitisplannedtocover.Itisnotafastpacewemustadmit.However, desirableasitmightbe, speedof completionhasnotbeenourfirstpriority.Rather,foraFlorathathadbeen awaitedforsuchalongtime (ahundredyearsinfact),ourmain goal wastoproduceaworkwhich made thewaitingworthwhile.That is,tooffernot justamodernupdateofthe v ascularplant speciesrecordedinourterritorybuttoreachthehighestpossible scientificstandards.To achievethisweneededtoguaranteethatevery generic accountwasbasedon original detailedtaxonomicresearch ratherthanonamerebibliographicsynthesisasissometimesthecase infloristicprojects.InareviewofvolumeII,KaiLarsen(NordicJ.Bot.11:92,1991)saidreferringtooneoftheaccounts'itisalmostamonographonthegenus'.Thisis, infact,ourobjectivenotonlytoavoidwhatcould otherwisebean exofficiocompilationbutalso todemonstrate thatregionalFlorasneednotnecessarilyproducelocallybiasedtaxonomiesasopposedtocontinentalFloras.

There isonly a way to try to speedthingsupwhilemaintaining ourrequirements forthoroughtaxonomicrevisionineachgroup:wideningthenumberofauthorsandeditorsinvolved.We h avemovedin thisdirectionand theresultisthat135authorsfrom tendifferentcountrieshave contributedor arecurrentlyworkingongeneric accounts.Infact,ourlastapplicationforfinancialsupportwas signedby 37botanists,11of whomwillberesponsiblefortheeditingofentirefamilies.Whatismoreimportantis thatthe editorsbelong infourdifferentinstitutions:besidestheBotanicGardenofMadrid, whichcontinuestohosttheSecretariat,theuniversitiesofSevilla,Barcelona,SalamancaandBadajoz.

Plansforthenext5yearsincludethepublicationofeightvolumes:IX

, X,XI

, XII, XIII

,XIV

, XV, and

XVIII. VolumeVI

isscheduledforautumn1997andVII for theendof1998).

Prospectsforthefuturecontinuetobepromising bothfinanciallyandscientifically.VolumesVIandVIIIwerepresentedon 28May1997inapublicceremony chaired bytheMinisterofEducationandCulture,EsperanzaAguirre, who withherassistancesupportedthecontinuityoftheproject.

As tothescientificparticipation, ournowmiddle-aged project isnottotal lydevoidofproblemsbutwhichscientificendeavourinvolvingsuchalargenumberofresearchersisnot?Paradoxicallyperhaps, forsomeofusthehealthandthestrengthoftheprojectrestsonthenowwideparticipation.Iftheresultsofourworkcontinuetobeasenthusiasticallyacknowledgedashavebeenthevolumesalreadypublished,Ithinkthattheprojectwillcontinue soonerorlater,fasterorslower towardscompletion.Thedemand forthisworkevenincreaseseverytimeanewvolumeispublishedandtherateofca.20%moretaxa(species+ subspecies)thanthoserecognisedin theFloraEuropaeafortheterritoriescoveredholds.

Recentinnovationsincludetheproduction ofaCD-Romversionofthe firstfourvolumesthatwillbeperiodicallyupdated.Thisversionincorporatesalltheinformationpresentedintheprintedvolumes,aswellasenablingplantidentificationwithoutnecessarilyfollowingthedichotomouskeys.MorphologicaltermscanbeinputtedeitherinSpanishor English toobtainthebestmatches.Computersearchesusing specificrestrictions,geographical ordescriptive, canalsobemadeandthe

(RhamnaceaetoPolygalaceae)(AraliaceaeandUmbelliferae)(Gentianaceaeto Boraginaceae)(Labiatae andallies)(PlantaginaceaetoScrophulariaceae)

(MyoporaceaetoCampanulaceae)(RubiaceaetoDipsacaceae)

(CyperaceaetoPontederiaceae)(Rosaceae)

(Leguminosae)

corresponding listsgenerated. Unlikethehard copy,adistributionmapthatpops-up isprovidedforeachtaxon.Whilenotbeingtheperfectelectronicsolution foraFlora(quantitativecharacterscannotbeused),the systemhasundeniable advantagesand itshasbeenadoptedbytwosuchimportantprojects asthe Floraof North Americaandthe world-wideSpeciesPlantarumproject.

T h e S p a n i s he t h n o b o t a n yg r o u p s a n dM E D U S A

DiegoRiveraandConchitaObon,revisedbyF.TomasBarberanThestudyoftraditionalusesofplantsintheIberianPeninsulaattractedtheinterest ofSpanishbotanistsin thefirsthalfof thisCentury.Anexampleofthisinterest wasshownby Dr.PiusFontQuer,whoinhisDioscorides' bookversion hadgatheredmuchlocalinformation, collected byhimselfandotherpharmacists.Thistaskhasbeenreassumedinrecenttimes(beginningoftheeighties)byresearchteamsatseveral Biology and PharmacyFaculties,Agricultural HighSchoolsandSpanishResearch CouncilCentres(CSIC).Several Ph.D. Thesis werepresentedandotheraregoing oninthefieldsofGeneralEthnobotany andEthnopharmacology.Muchefforthasbeendevoted toimprovetheircooperationby thedifferentteams workinginSpainand indevelopingcommonmethods.

TheInternationalEthnobotanicalCongressheld atCordobain1992wasanimportantmeetingpointforthedifferentresearchgroupsworkinginSpain,havingtheopportunity ofsharing theirexperienceswithcolleaguesfrom abroad, mainlyfromSouthernandCentralAmerica.TheCordobaBotanicGarden,with theMuseum ofEthnobotanyareinvolvedintheexhaustiverecoveringofethnobotanical informationinAndalusia,mainlyfrom Cordobaandneighbouringprovinces.Theheadof

A c t i v i t y R e p o r t s

thisinstitutionisProfessorHernandez Bermejowhoisalsodevelopingmuch workinthef ie ldofp lantconservation.NearCordoba, attheGranadaUniversity i n theDept.ofPlant BiologyoftheFaculty ofPharmacy,Dra.ReyesGonzalezTejero, Prof. JoaquinMoleroandco-workershavestudiedthoroughlythetraditionalmedicinaluses ofplantsinEasternAndalusia,inasimilarwaybutmorerecentlycameinthisfieldtheProfessorsNietoCalderaofMalagaUniversityandFernandezLopezof JaenUniversity andtheirresearchteams.

AtMadridthereareseveral groupsinterestedin Ethnobotanyandusesofplantswildandcultivatedfromdifferentapproaches.ThePharmacyFacultyoftheComplutense University(Prof.Villar andCarretero)devotedsome attentiontochemicals fromSpanishendemicspeciesandtheirbiological activities. ProfessorVelascoNeguerueladirected several thesisinvolvingethnobotanicalandphytochemical researchconcerningCentral SpainandcarriedoutatthePlant BiologyDepartmentoftheBiologyFacultyofthisUniversity.Prof. MargaritaCostaTenorio,atthesame department, directeda Ph.D.thesis (byS.Mesa)concerningGeneralEthnobotany ofSierraMagina(Jaen,Andalusia).Dr.RamonMorales(MadridRoyalBotanicGardens)tookcareofthedirection ofthemuchcomplexThesisofDr.EmilioBlancoinvolvingcomparativeethnobotanical researchatGaliciaandExtremadura.

It i s no teworthythe splendidmonographbyDr.LuisMuletPascualconcerningmedicinalplants ofCastellonand theirtraditionalusesinthisprovince,thispublicationis based i nthePh.DThesisoftheauthor,madeunder thedirectionofProfs.M.CostaandJ.B.Peris,PharmacyFaculty,ValenciaUniversity. Alsoaconsiderable researchhas beendevelopedin CataloniabyProf.JoanVallesandco-workers,atthePharmacyFaculty(BarcelonaUniversity).ThisresultedinseveralThesis(AngelsCardona, JoanMuntane,etc.) andregionalmonographs.ThePyrenaeanResearch Centre atJaca

(Huesca)havepublishedamuchcomprehensivemonographconcerningmedicinal plantsof'AltoAragon',thisisnowinhissecondedition.AtJacamostofthebotanistsnowworkingtherehaveinheritedtheethnobotanicalconcernandenthusiasmofDr.PedroMontserrat, formerhead ofthisgroup.In thepresenttimeDr.LuisVillarisanactiveorganizerofthegroup,involvingresearchanalsoethnobotanicaltraininginsummercourses,with co-workerssuchasJoseMariaPalacin.

Manyotherresearchershaveshowntheirinterestinto thisfield:Prof. J.IzcoandDr.PabloRamil (SantiagoUniversity), Prof. FelixLlamas(LeonUniversity), Prof. J.LastraMenendez(OviedoUniversity),Prof.GonzaloMateo(Valencia University),Prof.BenitoCrespo(AlicanteUniversity), etc.

Althoughthereisnoadirectrel ationshipwith theMEDUSAnetworktherearealsoinSpainseveralresearchersinvolvedinthefieldo fPalaeoethnobotanyboth inUniversitiesandtheResearch CouncilDepartments.

Lastbutnotleast, inMurcia(PlantBiologyDepartment,MurciaUniversity)wehavedevelopedaresearchworkinvolving GeneralEthnobotanyand specialEthnopharmacology.Thewholeoftheregionhasbeencoveredbythef ie ldresearch,carriedoutsince1981.Wehavealso studied neighbouringregionssuchasCastillaLaManchaorSouthofValencia.Threebookshavebeenpublished so farbyProf.DiegoRiveraandDra.ConcepcionOboncontaininginformation onthetraditional usesofplantsinMurcia.AmonographyontheEthnobotanyofSierrasdeSeguraandAlcaraz,isactuallyin press, bytheaforesaidauthorsandAlonsoVerde;andatwovolumesetdescribingthe traditionalnutandfruitcultivarsoftheSeguraBassin(SE ofSpain).On-goingatatourresearchgrouparethe theses ofA.Verde, F.Mendez andC.Sanchez-RocainthefieldsofEthnobotanyandEthnopharmacology.ForeignstudentssuchasAnjaMuller,from BonnUniversity,developedEthnopharmacological researchprojectsin ourlaboratory.CooperationwiththePhytochemistryLaboratory,Dr.F.TomasBarbera

n andco-workers,(CEBAS-CSIC,Murcia)hasbeenvery profitabletoidentify thecompoundswhich couldberesponsiblefor theethnopharmacological use.

From1992severalmeetingsandworkshopshavebeenorganizedinGranada, Cordobaand Madrid andanewsletteroftheSpanishGroupofEthnobotanywasissuedbythecolleaguesofGranada University.Since1994muchoftheaforesaidresearch groupsareinvolvedinamajorcommontask: theSpanishEthnoflora.Workisnowinprogressbuttheattemptsforobtaining aneconomicsupport from theSpanishAcademicauthoritiesfailedintwoconsecutiveopportunities.Thefirstpublicationofthisproject,in theform ofacheck-list,isexpectedfor nextAutumn, t obepresentedatthe EthnobotanicalCongressinMerida(Mexico).

Wehad theopportunityofpresentingtheMEDUSAnetwork toareducedgroupofourcolleaguesinarecentworkshopheld inMadridinJanuary1997.

June1997

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P r o p o s a l t o s e tu p a c e n t r e f o ro n - f a r mc o n s e r v a t i o n o fp l a n t g e n e t i cr e s o u r c e s o n t h ei s l a n d o f L i n o s a( I t a l y )

K. Hammer,IPK,Genbank,Correnstrasse 3, 06446Gatersleben, GermanyOn-farm conservation isaspecialcaseofinsituconservation. Traditionalpartsofagricultureand horticulturemaybepreservedbycontinuingtoproduce crops inatraditional way.Contrarytothe staticmethods ofexsituconservationingenebanks,thiswillprovideforacontinuingevolutionofthecrops. Onlyafewexamplesofon-farm conservationexistso far,

A c t i v i t y R e p o r t s

mainlybecauseoftheproblemsthatarise fromtheneedtoorganizeatthesame timecropproductionandconservation butalsodueto thelackofsuitablesituationssincegeneticerosionhasbeensowidespreadincropspecies.Theislandof Linosa, south ofSici ly,hasstillpreservedtraditionalformsofagriculture. In comparison withthecataloguemadeforthewholeofsouthItaly andSicilybyHammer etal.(1992),more than tenpercentofthecropplantswerefoundatthespecieslevel. Consideringthesmallsizeoftheisland,(5.3km2)thishasto beconsideredanexceptionalsituation. Achecklistcontainedabout100cropspecies. The infraspecificvariation ofthismaterial istillunderinvestigation.

Completelynewwayshave tobedevelopedso astosetupacentreforon-farmconservationontheisland(cf.Hammeretal.1997). Theuniquewildfloras should alsobeincludedinanynewprogramme. An integratedapproachtonatureconservationandon-farmconservationcould lead to anewmodel. Oneoftheproblemswillbe m aintainingcrop plantstogetherwith theirwildrelatives.Introgressivehybridization willbetheresultofsuchsituationsandthiscouldendangert hegeneticintegrityofthepopulationsofthewildspecies. On theotherhand,introgression constitutesan importantevolutionary factorforthedevelopmentofcrop plants. Thusbothoftheseaspectswill havetobetakenintoaccount inplanningtheintegratedmodel. Itwouldbeofgreat interesttolearn ofsimilarexperiencesinotherparts oftheMediterraneanoraboutpromisingsituations foron-farmconservation.

References

Hammer,K.,Knupffer,G.,Laghetti,G.&Perrino,P.1992.Seedsformthepast.AcatalogueofcropgermplasminSouthItalyandSicily.GermplasmInstitute(CNR).Bari.

Hammer,L.,Laghetti,G.&Perrino,P.1997. ProposaltomaketheislandofLinosa/Italyasacentreforon-farmconservationofplantgeneticresources.GRACE44(inpress).

T h eM e d i t e r r a n e a nI s l a n d s P l a n tS p e c i a l i s t G r o u p

Bertrand deMontmollin,biolconseils, Serre 5, C H-2000Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Thecurrentsituationin theMediterraneanislandsUnknown tomany,theMediterraneanregioncontainsalmost10,000islandsandislets, makingitoneofthelargestislandgroupsintheworld.

Theseislandshouseawealthofspecies,manyendemic,making theregionanimportantcentreofbiodiversity.Inaddition, thehistoryofthe Mediterranean basin,itsflexibilityinreacting toamyriadof changes,andits roleasanaturallaboratorytostudyspeciation,areotherreasonswhy theseislandsareofsuchgreatinterest.

Humanactivities havecausedconstantpressureontheMediterraneanforthousandsofyears,althoughtodayarean integralpartof anyMediterraneanecosystem.Howeverduringthelastfew decades,majorsocio-economicchangeshaverapidlyincreasedthenegativeeffectsofhuman impactintheMediterranean,particularlyalongthecoasts.Islandsare especiallyvulnerable tothisimpact,astheirsmallsizeamplifiessuchdisruptions.

Thelackofdataonspeciesdistributionmeansthatitisdifficulttomakeacompletelyobjectiveassessment ofthecurrentsituation,particularlyforthesmallerislands.Moreinformationisneededaboutthehabitats aswellastheecologyandbiologyofthespeci esconcerned,inordertoorganiseconservationprogrammesforspeciesandtheirhabitats.

In addition,legal protectivemeasuresareingeneralscarce,andpoorlyimplemented.Protectedareasareinsufficientinnumber,andthemanagementofexistingprotectedareasneedssometimestobeimproved.

Itisthereforeurgenttosetupacomprehensiveprogrammetoprotectthe flora(aswell asassociatedfauna),habitats,andlandscapesofthe

Mediterranean Islands,within theframeworkofaglobal strategy forenvironmental protection,sustainabledevelopment,andresourcevalorisationforlocalpopulations.

TheMediterraneanIslandsPlantSpecialistGroup(MIPSG)wascreatedatthebeginningof1995.Its25membersrepresentalmosteverycountry possessingislandsin theMediterranean basin.

TheMIPSGhasdefinedastrategytobeused asaframeworkforconservationaction.ThisstrategyisspecificallygearedtowardsharmonisingtheactivitiesoftheMIPSG withotherconservationworkoccurringinthearea,aswel l a sintegratingthem withexistingMediterranean networks.

Themainprinciplesofthestrategyare:

toassessthe conservationstatusofthe floraandvegetationonalltheMediterraneanIslands;

toimproveandintegratecurrentknowledgeoftheflora,habitats,threatsandprotected areas, withtheauthoritiesconcernedwiththeirconservation;

toidentifyconservationpriorities,and d evelop specific action plans;

todefine,promote,supportandimplementactionplansfortheconservation ofspecies, habitats,specificsites,orentireislands;

toproposetoolsfor floraan dvegetationconservationwithinanisland context;

toestablishabiodiversitynetworkformonitoringandimplementation;

tohighlightthevalueoftheseislandecosystemswithina frameworkofdevelopment activities;

toimprove,synthesiseandcirculateknowledgeandinformation;

toenhancetheawarenessof d ecisionmakersaswellasthepublic.

Theseprincipleswillbeexpandedinthe"ConservationofMediterraneanIslands Plants- 1.Strategyfor Action"publishedinoctober1996.Theywill

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serve astheframeworkfor theconservation action programmeof theMIPSGinthecomingyears.

ImplementationoftheMediterraneanIslandsPlant Action Planis scheduledtocoverafour-year period(1997-2000)andwillbestructured asfollows:

regional corespondentswillbeselectedamongsttheMIPSGmembersforeach i s l andorarchipelago.They willberesponsiblefor co-ordinatingongoing work,monitoring thebiodiversityundertheirremit,andsharingtheinformationwiththerest ofthenetwork;

amanagementteamco-ordinated byan executivesecretarywill monitoreachregion, providetechnical andscientificsupport whereneeded, andmobilisefundsto enablethisworktobeundertaken;

localplayerswill implementconservationprogrammes withthehelpandguidanceofthemanagementteam andthe regionalcorrespondents,andwhereneeded,specialised scientificexperts.

This ActionPlanwillfitwithintheframeworkofIUCN'sdevelopingactivitiesintheMediterraneanregion(MediterraneanProgramme).

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Implementationoftheactionprogramme

P l a n t e ss p o n t a n e e s d e laf l o r e d e T u n i s i e :C o n s e r v a t i o n e tu t i l i s a t i o nW i l d p l a n t s o fT u n i s i a : t h e i rc o n s e r v a t i o n a n du s e

R.Chemli,Faculte dePharmaciedeMonastir,M.A.Nabli, FacultedesSciencesdeTunis,Tunisie

LafloredelaTunisie

LaTunisie d'unesuperficiede164,148km2avecdesmontagnespeueleveesetunemosaiqued'ecosystemesdisposed'uneflore relativementpauvreen especes endemiques. LadiversitespecifiqueestcependantassezricheLaflorevasculaire, outrelesespecesintroduites,cultiveesetsubspontanees, comportepresde2150taxonssubdivises,en115 familleset742genres.

307especessontrares,et 99sonttresrares.Parmi ces406plantes335sontdesespecesdistinctesetquiconstituentenviron15%del'ensembledelafloredupays.Surles81especesendemiquesdel"Afriquedu Nordet duNord dusahara, 34 especes sontrencontres enTunisie.

Lesplantesnecessitant uneprotectionprioritaire sont:

Lespressionsanthropiquesassocieesalaseveriteduclimat,essentiellementen milieux fragiles(zonesemiaridesetarides)ontentraineunedegradationdesecosystemesaccompagneed'unediminutiondeleurdiversitefloristiquede nombreusesplantesapparenteesounonadesformescultiveesontdisparuou menaceesdedisparition.

Lesforets(essencecortegefloristique),les pelousesetles steppesquiconstituentl'essentieldelavegetation

Calligonumazel,Cupressus sempervirens,Juglansregia,Phyllitishemionitis,Prunus,Cyclamenpersicum,Euphorbiadendroidesavium,Pyrus syraciaetQuercusfaginea

enTunisie,montrentdessignesderegressionvariables.Desespeces,deplushautinteret(pastoral,ecologique,medicinal, alimentaire...)figurentparmi lesplus menacees.

Lasauvegarde dupatrimoinephytogenetiquenepeutetreenvisagee,entoute prioritequ'atravers uneexploitationraisonneedesressourcesdumilieuquipasseparlaprotectionetlarestaurationdessols cequifavoriserait uneremonteebiologique.

Lacreation desseptsparcsnationaux ,etquatorzereservesnaturelles,zonespilotes etderayonnementsurlesregions concernees,ontcontribuealaconseravationdesecosystemes,laproliferationd'especes menaceesetl'emergencede taxons considerescomme disparus.Ces approchesprivilegient lasauvegardeinsitud'ecosystemes, degroupementsvegetaux,d'especeset depopulations.Toutesfois,elleneconservent pasobligatoirementladiversitegenetiquedes especes;lacreation dereservesnaturellesetlechoix desespeces a protegerdoiventetre guidesauprealableparuneanalysedeladiversitegenetique.La p rioriteaccordeeatelleoutelleespeceslocale,doittenircomptedesonniveaudevariabilite,desabiologiefloraleetdesobjectivesdesonutilisationacourtet alongterme.

Lacreationde reservesgenetiquesspecialementconcuespourdesespecessauvagesapparentesauxformescultiveesdoitetreenvisagee.

Lapromulgationen1988,descadreslegislatifsetconstitutionnelspourgererlavegetationnaturelle (forets steppesparcours..)ont permisdel imiterladegradationdelavegetationnaturelle.

Cettepreoccupationdu sauvegardeinsitus'estvuconcretiseeparla creationd'uncentredes ressourcesPhytogenetiques.

Lesprincipalesplantes spontanees,essentiellement celles menaceesd'erosion genetique,presenteesselonleurinterets

(alimentaire,pasteural,medicinal,ornemental, ecologique..)serontevoquesetleursmoyensdeconservationsdiscutes.

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continuedonpage28

E t a t d e r e c h e r c h eb i b l i o g r a p h i q u ed a n s l e s p a y s duM a g h r e bB i b l i o g r a p h i cr e s e a r c h i n t h ec o u n t r i e s o f t h eM a g h r e b

M.Hmamouchi, FacultedeMedecineetdePharmacie, Rabat,Maroc,UnitedeRecherche:Plantes MedicinalesetAromatiques,B .P.6203 RabatInstituts, Maroc.Lapresenteetudebibliographiqueviseaetablirl'etatdestravauxsurlesplantesauMaghreb. Pourlaclartedel'expose,elle procederaenpremier l ieude faconanalytiqueethistoriqueselonlestravauxeffectues.Ellecommenceraparunrappeldes travauxqui traitesdespremieresdonneesrelatives auxplantes,vuleurimpactsurlesutilisationsactuelles.Dansundeuxiemetemps,ellepresenterales travauxrecents relatifs a l aquestion.Cettebibliographienevisepasl'exhaustivite,maissignalelestravauxspecifiques, quiont constituesdesapportsoriginauxsurlaquesti on.

Il est bonderappellerqu'on estime aenviron20000lenombred'especes deplantesutiliseesdanslemondeadesfinstherapeutiques, alimentaires,cosmetiques, chimiques,pharmaceutiqueset agro-alimentaires.

Lesresultats desenquetesethnobotaniqueseffectueesdanslesdifferentspaysduMaghreb montrentqueplusde80%delapopulation arecoursauxplantes pourse fairesoigneretplusde30 especessontutiliseesenalimentation.C'estpourmieuxdecomprendrelebienfondedel'heritage despharmacopeesmagrebinesquenousavons faituneetudebibliographique destravaux quionteteffectuesauMarocet auMaghreb.

En effet,les Marocainsenparticulieretles arabesen generale,ontutilisesdepuis lestempslesplusancienslesplantescomme sourcesd'alimentation,

de medicaments, d'alimentation etd'embellissement.L'etudedelapratiquedelamedecinetraditionnelleMaghrebineaucoursde l'histoirearabe-islamique, montre que cettemedecinetraditionnelleapusemaintenir ets'enrichirjusqu'anosjours gracealasituationgeographique, auxtraditionssocio-economiquesetaux particularitesgeographiquesdechaquepays.

Nousnous sommesinteresseal'etudedesplusimportantstravaux relatifsauxplantes utiliseesadesfinstherapeutiques,alimentaires,cosmetiques, chimiques,pharmaceutiquesetagro-industrielles.Au Maroconn'anoteplusde 4.200especesexistantent.

Cetravail s'inscritdanslecadre del'etudeetlavalorisation desressourcesnaturellesmarocaines.Iln'apaslapretention d'aborderd'une facon exhaustivetouteslesfacettesde cesressources, combienabondantesdansnospaysafricains engeneraletauMarocen particulier.Il traiteprincipalementdesPlantesmedicinaleset Aromatiques. Il soulignel'importancequ'occupelesplantesmedicinalesetaromatiques auMaroc.Lastrategieadoptee danscetravail,vise l'integration desP.M.A.danslesystemedesanteetdansl'economiemarocaine.Enparticulierleurconservationetleurvalorisation auniveautherapeutique,alimentaire,cosmetiqueetchimique.

Notreobjectif quirestecependantambitieux,visenta:

Elaborerunrecueil surlesdonneesdesplantesutilisees au Maroc;Inventorierles plantesutilisees enmedecinetraditionnellemarocaine;

Preciser les grandstraits descaracteristiques botaniques, de larepartitionbotaniqueetdesusages atravers lesdifferentesregionsclimatiquesetsocio-economiquesmarocaines;

Exploiterlesacquisdestravauxderechercherealises enassociantunemethodologierigoureuseetoriginaleauneorientationderecherchesversdesbesoinsreels;

Permettreauxdifferentsspecialistesdetravaillersur desdonneesdeja

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regroupees;

Proposerdes recommandations pouruneutilisationadequateenharmonieavec labiodiversiteetlaprotectiondel'environnement;

Proposerune demarchepour laconservation,l'exploitationrationnellede cesressourcesnaturelles.

Uneetudebibliographiquedessourcesd'informations disponibles surlesutilisations des Plantesmedicinales etAromatiquesdanslemondearabo-islamiques,au Maghrebetau Maroc,nouslivrentun savoirfairetresriche. Actuellement, onconstatequ ilexisteplusieurs travauxderechercheseffectuespardesequipespluridisciplinaires,agronomes,chimistes,biologistes,pharmacologistes.Certainesinformationsbibliographiques sontrapporteesd'une facon tressuccinctes. Pourplusd'information,lesprincipauxouvragesdereference sontconsignesdansla dernierepartie.

Lesdifferentes pharmacopeesont prisnaissanceetsontenrichiespendantlesgrandes conquetesbien queleshabitantspossedaientegalementleurstherapeutiques.Aussiungrandnombred'ouvragesgrecs,enl'occurrencelesmanuscritsd'Hippocrate,deGallienetdeDioscorides,ont etetraduitparlesArabesquienonta joute leurs propresobservations,denouvellesrecettesetdenouveauxmedicaments.Enmedecineindienneancienne, lesplantes medicinalesfaisaientl'objetd'uneculturereglementeeorganiseed'apres lesordonnancesduroibouddhiqueAcoka(IIIemesiecleav.J-C).

Cesont les"papyrus"traitantdelamedecinequinousfontconnaitrelesmateriauxmedicauxet l'experiencedesanciens egyptiens.Ildevaitprobablementexisterquelques400matiErespremiEres,danslapharmacopeedel'Egypteancienne,dontles matiEresanimales,minerales

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Lamedecineegyptienneancienne.

Originesdespharmacopees

Analysedestravauxrealises apresl'arriveedel'Islam

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etsurtoutvegetales.

Toutefois,c'estdansl 'artdelamomificationquiapparaitlasuperioritedesanciensegyptiens,entantquechimistes.Pourcela,ilsont utilisedesselstelsquelechloruredesodium, deshuilesetdes parfums.

. Ellenousest connuegraceaux tablettesportantdeslistesdedrogues,soigneusementetablies,enecriture cuneiforme.Un roide Babylone : MardoukappalidineII(772-710av. J-C)fit creerunjardindans l equeletaientcultivees64espEcesdeplantesmedicinales.Aladifferencedesrecettesdel'Egypteancienne,lesformulesbabyloniennesn'indiquentnipoidsnimesures.Ilsemblequ'unesorte d'ententetacite regnait parmilesmedecinsquantauxdoses a employer.

.Lebutprincipal delamedecine del'Indeancienne, etaitdeprolonger laviehumaine.LesremEdesetaientessentiellementd'originevegetaleetlesplantesmedicinalesfaisaientl'objetd'une culturereglementee organiseediaprEslesordonnances duroibouddhiqueAeoka(IIIemesiEcleav.J-C)

Lepremieressaid'enregistrementdesmethodestherapeutiqueset destypesde m edicaments, etaitenChineavantJ-Cd'apeupres3000ans,dansune'pharmacopee'formeede52 tomes. Letraite depharmacologie'Pen ts'Kangmou' contient8160formulesprepareesabasede1871substances,essentiellementvegetales.

Lesmedecinsantiquespreparaienteux-memesleurs remedesapartirdesmateriauxqueleurfournissaientlesherboristes etlesmarchandes.Parmilespluscelebresmedecins, oncite:Hippocrate(460-355 av.J-C) 'Peredelamedecine';Theophraste(387-317av.J-C) 'Peredesplantes'; Galien(130-201) 'Perede l a pharmacie'.

Ce futledecretdeCharlemagne (768-814),le celebre'CapitulairedeVillis'quiordonnaitofficiellementauxcouvents etauxgrandsexploitantsdelaculturedecertainslegumesetsimples,decertainsarbres,fleurs,quicontribua

Lamedecinebabylonienne

Lamedecineindienneancienne

Lamedecinechinoiseancienne.

Lamedecinegreco-Romaine.

AuMoyenAge.

notablementaetendrelaculturedesplantesmedicinales.Les medecinsetherboristesacette epoqueetaientnombreux.Pourneciterquelespluscelebres: HildegardedeBingen (1098-1179);Constantin,d'originecarthaginoise, futunremarquabletraducteur desouvragesarabes;Guydechauliac,futungrandchirurgien;AlbertleGrand,botanisteetmedecin.

Incomparablementplusrichequelasciencephysiologiquegrecquedontelleestenpartieissue,lamedecinearabe, qui achevapratiquementdeseconstituer auxenvironsduXemesiEcle,conservaneanmoinsdusavoiretdelasagesseantiquesunetres forteempreinte;

Il seraitillusoiredeparlerdelamedecinetraditionnellechezlesArabes,sansparlerdecelleduProphete.Eneffet,celle-cicomportaitdiversprototypesde traitementd'un certainnombredemaladies.Acepropos,l'HistorienIbnKhaldoun parledelamedecineduProphEteetajoute:'LePropheteaeupourmissiondenousfaireconnaitreles prescriptionsdelaloi divineetnonde nousapprendrelamedecine'.

En effetlessourcesdesprescriptionsmedicalesduProphetesontdedeuxsortes:terrestreetdivine.Lapremieresourceest celleresultantdesoninitiational'artmedicalapuresdeHarithIBN Kaladah;d'autresconnaissancesmedicaleslui virent desobservationsfaitestantdanssesvoyagesqu'aumilieudesesconcitoyens.AcotedeHarith, i lyavaitdesarabesquipratiquaientlamedecinepopulaire,cauterisaient,ventousaient,saignaient,pansaientlesblessuresetc.LadeuxiEmesourcedesprescriptionsmedicalesduPropheteluiestdueparlarevelationdivine,celle-ciinteresseentreautreslatherapeutiqueparl'eaudetruffedanslesmaladiesophtalmiquesdontlesresultatsfurentappreciesparYouhannaIbnMassaouih,medecin d'El-Moutaouakkel.

AinsileProphete recommandaitunealimentationdiversifiee, touteninsistantsurlaconsommationprioritairedelegumesetdefruitsfrais

LamedecineArabo-Musulmane.

LamedecineduProphete.

etsurtoutsurceluidu lait,des dattesetmiel dontlesmultiplesvertussontaujourd'hui amplementdemontrees.Plusieursplantesontetesignaleesparl e Prophete.Ainsi,les plantesrecommandees p arnotreProphetedans'At'tibAnabaoui'deIbnAlKayimAlJousiasontaunombredetrentesept,dontun grandnombre estdestinealaconsommation,parcontrecertainesdecesplantessontreserveesal'usageexterne.

Onconstatequelesplantesciteesparl e Prophetepresentent desindicationstresvariees,allantdesimplesfortifiantsaux anticancereuxparfois.Paradoxalementaugrandesvertusquepossedantcesplantes, lecote toxiciteaeteegalementsignale,pour certainesplantes, parleProphete.

Certainesproprietesphysiologiquesoutherapeutiques signaleesdans l amedecineduProphete,ontetedemontreesscientifiquement, enl'occurrence,lesproprietesastringenteetantidiarrheiquedesgrenadines,l'effethypoglycemiant delanigelle,l'effetantidiarrheiqueduriz,ouencorelesproprietesantiseptiques(cavitebucco-dentaire)del'Arakousalvadore.

.Cen'estqu'apartirdu92del'Hegire(711J.C)qu'onteteposeeslespremierespierresd 'unmonumentaledifice scientifiqueetculturel.Cettedaterepresente pourlesmusulmanslaconquItedumondeEuropeen quin'amalheureusementpas pus'etendreaudeladel'Andalousie.PourcequiestduMaroc,ilasubitl'invasionArabeauVIIIesiEcle, et i lsemblequelapharmacopeeMarocainea prisnaissancependantcetteperiodebienque leshabitantspossedaientegalement leurstherapeutiques . Aussi ungrandnombre d'ouvragesgrecs,enl'occurrenceles manuscritsd'Hippocrate,deGallien&deDioscorides, a etetraduitparlesArabesquienontajouteleurspropresobservations,denouvellesrecettes,etdenouveauxmedicaments.

.NousrappelleronsbrievementdanscechapitrequelquesnomsdesgrandsmedecinsArabesetmusulmans, en l'occurrenceIbnRochd,

OriginedespharmacopeesArabeetMarocaine

Lesprincipauxsavantsdesanciensmedecinsarabes

PharmacopeeArabo-Islamique

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Ibnou Nafis etIbnAlBaytar. IbnRochdestned'unperenommelefi lsparleshistoriens;il etaitundesgrandsjurisconsultesmalekites,etilremplissaitlesfonctionsde Cadi deCordoueMais comme IbnRochdmanifestaittoujoursuninteretparticulieralamedecine,sonperel'orienta verslespluscelebrs medecinsdesontemps,dont nouscitonsAbouJaafarHarounAt-Tarjali sonmaitre p rincipaletundesnomsbrillantsdeSeville.SansoublierlafrequentationdelafamilleIbnZohr.Eneffetunegrandeamitieetcollaboration unissaientIbn Rochd etAbou MarouanIbnZohrleclassiqueAvenzoar . L 'oeuvre magistraled'IbnRochdestle 'Koulliyat'plus theoriquequepratique,cetraiterecapitulelesconnaissancesmedicalesavecunespritanalytiqueet critique..

Ibnou Nafis estunautrenom aussibrillantqueleprecedentqui faitcElEbreenmedecine,enphilosophieetendiversessciences.Neen 687del'Hegire,iletaitl'auteurdeplusieurslivresquin'ontmalheureusementpaspuItrereproduitesenplusieursexemplaires, vuel'immensitedeleurvolume.

Iln'endemeurepasmoinsqu'unnombreassezimportantde sesl ivresaeteconserve jusqu'anosjours,parmilesquelleson cite:'A.ChenilFitib',uneveritable encyclopedie medicalecomportantl'ensembledesconnaissancesetdecouvertesmedicalesquietaientmises aupointasonepoque; 'CharhAl Kanoun'qui aetepartiellementtraduiten latinparAndreaAalpago;CharhFoussoulHippocrate'. EneffetIbnou Nafisetaitungrandadmirateur d'Hippocrateetiletait encoreplusfascineparcetouvragecequil'apousseal'expliciteretaletraduire.Enphysiologieaussi,Innou Nafis etaitlefondateurdeplusieursetudes:'Chiasmaoptiques','Lestroisdimensions'et'Strabisme'.

.Avantdeparlerdu plusgrand botanisteetmedecin quelamedecinearabeaitproduit: IbnAlBaytar.Sonnomrevientchaquefoisqu'on traitedebotaniqueet dematiEremedicalechezlesArabes.C'estleplusgrand botanisted'Orientetd'Occident.IbnAlBaytaravecu entre593et646del'Hegire(1179-1249JC), i l etait

IbnAlBaytar

connudanslemondemusulmanpar'AbouAnnabatAlarabi'.Ilnousalaisseleplusricherepertoiredel'histoirenaturellemedicalechezlesArabes.lusde 1400medicamentsdifferentssontclassesdanssonouvrage,parordrealphabetiqueparmilesquels300n'avaientpasencoreeteconsideresdansunouvragedepharmacologieet200sontdenaturevegetale.Sonouvragele plusimportantestle'Jamieal-Moufradat'ou'collectiondessimples'ouiltraiteparordrealphabetiquedesalimentsetdesmedicamentsdestroisregnes.

Parti deMalagaetayantparcourutoutel'Espagne, leMaroc, l ' Afriquedu Nord,l'Egypte,laSyrieetl'Asiemineure.Sur2330paragraphes, i l y enadu t i e r spourlessynonymes.Eneffet,nonseulement ilrelatelesplantesqu'ilareciteeslorsdesesvoyages,maisilnousaconservebeaucoupdenomsberbEresquifurentintroduitsparluidanslanomenclatureetfigurentmImedanslesdictionnairesarabes .

. Plusieursfacteurscontribuerentasondeveloppement.Ainsi,l'enseignementacademiquedesuniversitesislamiques(Qaeawiyine,Zaytouna), des"Medersas"deMarrakech, Fes,Tetouan etSale,les'Zaouia',deOuazzaneaSmara,l'experiencedesgrandsvoyageurs(IbnBatouta, E l Bekri,Cherif ElIdrissi),l'influence delamedecinedesvoisins:peupladesnoiresdesrivesduSenegalet duNiger,populationiberique, etladiversitedanslaprovenancegeographiquedes droguesutilisees,denotentbienlagrandeplasticitede lapenseemedicalemaghrebine.Parmilessavantsparexcellencedelatherapeutiquemaghrebine onci te :IbnZohr,MohamedAs-Saquri,IbnTofail,Abul Kassim,Az-Zahraoui, IbnBaklarich,IbnBayter,AbderrahmanElfassi,AbdelwahedIbnAhmedAddarraq.

Il convientaussideciterparmilesouvragesmaghrebinsfondamentauxquinoussontrestes:'TuhfatAl-ahbab',oeuvreanonymeecrittresvraisemblablementparuntherapeutede Marrakechoudusud marocainauXVIemeouauXVIIemesiecle;'Hadiqatal-azhar', ecriteparAlwazirAlGhassani

LamedecinetraditionnelleauMaghreb

quivecutalafinduXVIemesiEcleetfutlemedecin duSultanAhmedAlmansour.Al Urjuzah d'AbdelQaderIbnChaqrun,oeuvreconnuesouslenomdeUrjuzahach-chaqruniya,ecriteauXVIIIemesiEcle.Cetteoeuvreestprincipalement untraitededietetiqueetdihygiEne,maisellecontientegalementunemasseimportantederenseignements d 'ordre therapeutique.DiyaAn-Nibras,oeuvred'AbdeslamBenMohamed AlAlami,produiteauXIXemesiecle etlithographieeaFes alaf indu siecledernier.Kachfar-Rumuzd'AbderezaqAl Jazairi (XVIIIemesiecle), auteurdenationalitealgerienne, mais qui a treslargementpuiseauxsourcesetauxtraditionsmedicalesmarocaines.

AuMaroc, plusieurschercheurssesontinteressesal'etudedes plantesmedicinaleset aromatiquesmarocaines.C'estainsi queplusieurstheses, articlesontetepreparesdememequ'uncertainnombredememoiresetde livres. Voustrouverezenannexelalistedesplusimportantesreferences.Il noussembletrEsintEressant derappelerlesprincipauxtravaux realisesdanscedomaine.

L'ouvrageencoursdEditionintitule'PharmacopeetraditionnelleMarocaine:PlantesMedicinalesetAromatiques'actualiselesprincipalesdonneesrelativesauxplantesmedicinalesmarocaines.

Cetouvrageestleresultatdestravauxderechercheseffectuesdanslecadrede4projetsderecherche.Ilest lefruitdelasynthese d'untravaileffectuedepuis 8 ansparunevingtainedechercheurs.

Cetravailfaitlepoint desconnaissances actuellessurlamedecinetraditionnelleMarocaineengeneral etsurlesplantesmedicinalesetaromatiques Marocainesenparticulier.Lesplantesd'unevingtainedeprovinceonteterepertoriees,340plantesonteterecensees.Ils'agitdurecensementdesplantesmedicinalesutiliseestraditionnellementenmedecinepopulaire,leuridentification,leurutilisation, leurevaluationchimique,pharmacologique,toxicologiqueetleuridentificationbotanique.

Plantes medicinalesauMaroc.

MEDUSA Newsletter

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Dans unepremierepartie,nousavonspreciselesmonographiespourchaqueplanterecenseeaveclanomenclature(nomsscientifiques, vernaculairesenFrancais,Arabes,Dialectale,Berberes)et l e sFamillesvegetalescorrespondantes,ladescriptionbotanique,l'illustration,l'habitat, larepartitionau Maroc,l'abondance, lapartie utilisee,l'utilisation, lesprincipalesetudeschimiques,pharmacologiqueset toxicologiques.Dans une deuxieme p artie, nousrapportonsplusde500recettes,eninsistantsur ladescriptiondesmaladiesselon lesprescripteurs,laou les plantesutilisees,lapartieutilisee, lemodedepreparationet d'utilisation, lesprecautionsd'emploietlesproprietes.Dans unetroisieme partie,nousrapporteronslal istedesplantestoxiques, aromatiquesetles principalesutilisationsdesplantesmarocaines(alimentaire, medicinale, aromatiques,etindustriel).Enannexe,nousrapporteronsleglossairefrancais/arabe/berbere/latin, l e glossairearabe/francais/berbere/latin.(voir lemodeleci-joint).

Parmi l esautrestravauxinteressantsonpeut citer:

En 1970,MrSandaliA.,etudial'intoxicationa'l'Addad'(Atractylisgummifera).Ilsignalaquelquesdonneessurlaclinique,labiologieetl'anatomie pathologiquedeces6 casd'intoxicationsparcetteplante.Ils'agitd'uneplantetrestoxique.

En 1981,ElOmar Z.,traitalamedecinepopulaireparlesplantesmedicinalesdansletraitementdeshelminthiases,en vuederepertorierles plantes medicinalesutiliseescontrelesversintestinaux.Sur24plantesqu'ilrecensa,ilreleva6quisontlesplusutiliseesdanscesvilles.

En 1981,Mouhib M.etudialesplantesmedicinalesutiliseesenmedecinetraditionnelledanslaprovincedeTaza. Parmi l esplantestoxiquesresponsablesde lamajoritedes intoxicationsvegetalesdelaregion, i lc i ta : lecharbon a glu, lajusquiame blanche,leDatura,lelaurierrose,labelladone, l a ruesauvage,le Daphne, enfin l'Ephedra.

En 1983,Agoumi S,etudialesplantesmedicinalesausageanthelminthiquedanslaregionde

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es.Ainsi,i lreleval'util isationde11plantes.

En1984,MrDahouM.,graceauneenquetequ'ileffectuaaSettat, iletudialamedecinepopulairedecetteregion.

En1984,MrHamdani S.E.,afaituneenqueteaBouja.Enplusde40planteset15produitsminerauxdontildonnalesnomenclaturesetlesutilisationstraditionnellesdelaregion, ilcita16produitsanimauxtresutilises.

En1984,JiminezC. etudialamedecinetraditionnelledanslaregiondeCasablancaetRabat.

En1985,ElBouzidiH.etudialamedecinetraditionnelledanslaprovincedeKhemisset.Ilprecisalesindicationstraditionnellesd'unequatrevingtainedeplantesmedicinales, etd'unequinzainedeproduits mineraux.Ilcitaensuite12produits animauxutilisesdanslamagie.

En1985,KaddouriM.effectua uneenquIteapuresdedifferentstradi-praticiensdelaprovinced'Oujda.Ilsignalaaussidesrecettesdedroguespourunequarantainedepathologie.

En1985,AziouzE.etudialamedecinetraditionnelleaproposde30plantes,pourlesquellesilrapportalesmonographiesclasseesparfamillebotanique.

En1985,JennahL. etudialeshallucinogenesd'originevegetalesetleursincidences sur lasantepubliqueetsurlaviesociale.Ilrapportepourles11substanceshallucinogenesetudiees,labotanique, lapharmacologie, latoxicologieetlaphysiopathologie.En1986,KarimineF.etudialesintoxicationsvegetalesenpediatrieaproposde16plantes,selonl'experiencedu servicedereanimationpolyvalentepediatrique(de1980a1986)etducentreantipoisondeRabat(de1972a1986).Selonsesresultats,lechardonaglu,suiviparlepavot, leDaturaetleRicin,sontlesplanteslesplusfrequemmentresponsablesdecesintoxications.

En1986,BerradaF. preparauneetude intitulee: 'IBNRochdet la

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medecineandalouse'.

En1986,LakloumiM.etudia'Lavieet lacontributiond'IbnZohralamedecineexperimentalearabeatraverssonouvrage "LeTayssir".Ilsignalasommairementlesdifferentsmanuscritsdecelivre.

En1986,TouijerD. :Aproposde20plantesutiliseesenmedecinetraditionnelle.

En1987,Nas Lafkih A.afaituneetude surlesvegetauxtoxiquesenmilieumarocain,aproposdesdonneesducentreantipoisondeRabat, suruneperiodede6 ans(de1980a1985).Lecentreaenregistre9583 casd'intoxicationssurlesquelles175casconcernentlesvegetauxqui represententdonc1,8%del'activitegenerale.Parmi cesplantesontrouveenpremierlechardonaglu (56 cas),suiviessentiellementparlechanvreindien(12 cas),duDatura(9cas)etduharmel(7cas).

En1987,SekkatC. effectuauneenquIteapuresdediabetiques(100D.I.D et100 D.N.I.D)pour evaluerletraitement dudiabetepar lesplantesmedicinales.

En1987,AatikM.traital'histoiredelamedecine auMaroc.IleffectuauneenquItea Essaouiraapuresdecertainstradi-praticiensdelaregion.

Parmi cesplantes,l'armoise blanche,l'absinthe, les semencesdecourge,sontlesplus utiliseespourcetteaffection.

En1989,Grift iD.ameneuneetudeexperimentaledanslebutde releverl'effet hypoglycemiantdelacoloquintechezdes sujetsatteintsdediabEte(D.N.I.D).Ensuite, i l citaunedizainedeplantesutiliseespourlediabEteau Maroc.Enfin, ilrapportadifferenteshypothEsesconcernantle mecanismed'actiondeladroguedansceteffethypoglycemiant.

En1989,AlamS.rapportadanssonetudeintitulee:'Phytotherapieancestrale, actuelleetd'avenir',uneetude analytiquede22plantesrecommandeesparleprophete

En1989,CheraiM.E.,rapportauneetude relative aumedecinarabecelebreIbnou Nafis.

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En 1989,KatifM.A.etudialamedication delamedecinetraditionnelle,graceadesvisitesauxsouks,aux sanctuairesmaraboutiquesetauxsainsdelaregiondeMarrakech.

En 1990,ElMajjidiA.etudialamedecinetraditionnelleen traumato-orthopedie dansla region deMarrakech.

En 1990,TaouilA. aeffectueuneetudesurlesplantesmedicinales delaprovincedeNADOR.Ilsignala26plantesutiliseesdanslaprovince.

En 1990,Cherrad A.s'estinteresseaux pratiquesmedicalestraditionnellesau Marocenpediatrie.IlsignalalesrecettestraditionnellesrelativesaunecinquantainedemaladiesinfantilesconnuesauMaroc.

En 1990,Bendali M.etudialestraitementsdesaffectionsrespiratoiresparlesplantesmedicinales.

Il a effectueuneenquIteapuresdupublicetdesherboristesdelaregiond'Oujdasurunechantillonde80personnes.

En 1991,ElBaghdadiM.,etudiales plantes medicinalesquiontuneactionsurlesystemecardio-vasculaire.Ellerapportelesmonographiestres detailleesde25plantes.

En 1991,ElFariS.afait uneetudeintitulee:'LeCannabissativaL.'(Kif).Cetteetude a eteconsacrea l apharmacologiedu chanvreindien(pharmacocinetiqu e,mecanismed'action).

Sandali A. etudiaen1970,l'intoxicational'Addad,a proposde6cas.Ilsignalaledecesdedeux cas,etlasouffrancehepatique chez lesautrescas.

El BasriA.traital'intoxicationaiguechezl'enfantaproposde302cas auservicede pediatrieauC.H.U.AverrohesdeCasablancapourlaperiodede Janvier 1976aDecembre1981.

Naamani M . etudial'intoxicationaigueaAgadir(360cas,centrehospitalier Hassan II),periodedeJanvier81 a Decembre84).

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KarimineF.etudiaen1986,lesintoxicationvegetalesenpediatrieaRabat, a propos de16plantestoxiques.Parmi l esplusfrequemmentresponsabledecesintoxicationsvientenpremierlechardonaglu(Addad)suiviparlepavot,leDaturaetlericin.

Nas LafkihA. etaproposde9583casd'intoxicationsenregistreesaucentreantipoisondeRabat,suruneperiodede6ans(80-85),signalaque175cas concernelesvegetaux soit1,8%del'activitegenerale.

AjhounA.rapportadesmonographiesdecertainesplantesatropismenerveuxcentral:lechanvreindien,lepavot,letabacetl'aconittueloup.

Alaoui I . etudiaparmi l esplanteshepatotoxiquesutiliseesenmedecinetraditionnelle,l'amanitephallode,lechardonaglu, lacoloquinte,l'heliotroped'Europeetlericin.

AmarouchN.traitales plantesutilisees enphytotherapietraditionnelleetquiontuntropismecardiaque,commelelaurierrose,lascille,l'adonis,l'helleborefoetide,legui etleharmel.

JanaM.:Sonetudesurlesplantesactivessurlesystemenerveuxautonomeetutiliseesenmedecinetraditionnelleconcerne:lesbelladones,lesjusquiames,lesDatura, l esmandragoresetlesEphedra.

LoubarisM.N.il lustralecasdecinqplantesutiliseesenphytotherapierespiratoiretraditionnelle.Cesplantessont:lecoquelicot,lamenthepouliot, lethym,l 'origanetl'Ephedra.

T h e I t a l i a nS o c i e t y f o rA g r i c u l t u r a lG e n e t i c s t a k e si n i t i a t i v e s top r o m o t e g e n e t i cr e s o u r c e sc o n s e r v a t i o n

DomenicoPignone,CNR-IstitutodelGermoplasma,Bari,ItalyDuring thelastmeetingoftheItalian

Society forAgriculturalGenetics(SIGA) ( Perugia,Italy,September1996), a workinggroupon'Geneticresourcesandbiodiversity" wasestablished.Ameeting oftheworkinggrouptookplaceinRomeon May23 ,1997.Theaims ofthe meeting were:

Topromotecoordinationoftheresearchactivityin thefieldofgeneticresourcesandbiodiversity(GR&B)

Tocontributetoorientatingresearchactivitiestoward aspectso fparticularinterest

Topromotetheawareness onsafeguardinggeneticstocksandlocalpopulationsofcropsatriskofextinctionTo p romote theestablishmentofreferencepointsforallconcernedinstitutions

Morethan70scientistsfromalloverItalyattendedtothemeeting, togetherwithrepresentativesof someproducers'organisations.Themeetingdid notconcentrateonlyonagriculturalspecies butwasopentocontributionsonanimaland microbial biodiversity asrelated to agriculturalsystems.Therewere m anyshortcontributions mainlydevoted tointroducing theparticipantsandtheiractivities.Somespeakersconcentratedon theperspectivesoffinancial supporttoGR&Bactionswithintheframework ofongoingorfuturenational programmes.Thecontributionof Prof.Porceddu(UniversitadellaTuscia,Viterbo)wasparticularlyinteresting:heannouncedthatItalyisgoingtoimplementtheConventionof Rio,throughtheestablishmentofafinalisedprojecton

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theassessmentandconservationofItalianbiodiversity.

Duringthegeneraldiscussionwhichfollowedthe communications,thefollowingpointsofparticularinterestemerged:

Allparticipantsagreedonthenecessityofpromotinganationalcoordinationoftheresearchactionsin thefieldsofGR&B.Itwasalsoproposed toestablishaquestionnaireto bedistributedtoItalianresearchinstitutionsinorderto getup-to-date informationon thegeneticstocksandgermplasmconservedthere. Moreoveritwasproposed toestablishamailinglistof interestedresearchers topromoteth einteractionbetween distantresearch groups andtospreadmoreeffectivelyinformationonmattersof interesttothe workinggroup.

Amajorquestion aroseonwhetherareweproperlyconservingthegermplasmwepossess. I t cameoutthatthereisastrongneedofresearch inthefieldofevaluationthelevel ofgeneticerosionduringthegenebankactivitiesaswell ason thegeneticsofpopulationenhancementin thegene-banks.

It waspointedoutthat,besides fewexamples,themajorityofthestoredgermplasmisactuallyunderexploited.Theparticipantsdiscussed atlengththeactionsne ededin ordertopromotetheutilisation ofgermplasm presentlyin storage.

Apartfromtheinherent differences,i t waspointedoutthatanimalgermplasmseemstobemorewidelyexploited thanplantgermplasm.Arepresentativeof agrowersassociationpointedout thatsomeanimalproductsarehighlydependentofthelocalbreedsfromwhichtheyarederived.

In thefieldoflocalplantgermplasm,someinitiativesdevotedtothepromotionoflocalstocksthroughtheobtainmentofan'declarationoforigin'wereraisedanddiscussed.Allthese initiativesregarded specific productswith aspecificmarketdestination.

Attheendofthediscussion,regardingfuture i nitiatives,itwasagreedthat the

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mosturgentactionistoestablishamailinglistoftheworkinggroupoperatingviaelectronicmail,inordertospeedupthecontactsandpromoteinteractionsamonggroups.TheIstitutodelGermoplasma,Bari,tookresponsibilityforthistaskaswellasforcreatingareferencepageintheWorldWideWeb toassisttheworkinggroupactivities.Theaddressforthemailinglistwillprobablybesiga-biodiv@area.ba.cnr.it,whiletheWebpagewill beallocatedwithinthespaceof theGermplasmResearchInstitutehomepage(http://www.ba.cnr.it/~germdp02/germo.html).

Formoreimformationpleasecontact:

CNR-Germplasm ResearchInstituteE-mail germdp02@area.ba.cnr.itfax at+39.80.5587566.

Forfurtherinteractionorinformationon theGR&Bworkinggroup,pleasecontactthecoordinator:

Dip.BiologiaDifesaeBiotecnologieAgro-ForestaliUniversita'dellaBasilicataViaN.Sauro8585100Potenza,ItalyPhone+39.971.474258Fax+39.971.471009E-mail spagnoletti@unibas.it

R IGNONE

ROF IERLUIGI PAGNOLETTI EULI

D . P

P . P S Z

actualorpotentialimportancetoagriculture, variousindustries andhuman health, andconsequentlywillimprovethequalityoflife.

Overthelastfewyears,theintroductionof newresearchandapplicationtoolshasdramaticallychanged thefieldofnaturalproducts,inanefforttokeeppacewithgrowingconsumerdemand.Pharmaceuticalresearch isisolatingandcharacterizinga l argenumber ofnovelcompoundswithmedicinal value. In addition, theintroductionof biotechnology isrevolutionizing agricultureby enablingfastimprovementsinplantbreedingandselectionofuseful genotypes,improvementofproductqualityandtheproduction ofnew productswithindustrial uses.

TheDepartmentofNaturalProductsprovideseducationinthefieldofapplied biologicalsciencesspecializedincurrentadvancesin theproduction,useand legislationofplantnaturalproductswithspecialattention o naromaticandmedicinalplants.Thecoursecoversaspectsof:

Advancedtopicsin plantphysiology, plantbiochemistryandplantmolecularbiology

Plantgeneticsandbreeding

Plantpropagationincludingconventional&tissueculturePlantandsoilnutrition

Mediterraneanplantdiversity

Ecological andstressbiochemistry

Secondary Metabolism

Chemistryofnaturalproducts:Essential o i l s andotherterpenoids,alkaloids,flavonoidsandotherphenolics

Cultivation andprocessing ofaromaticandmedicinalplants

Natural productsin foodtechnology andotherapplications

Legislation ontheuseofnaturalproducts

Chemotaxonomy

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A.Training

1. Nine-month coursesonNaturalProducts

A c t i v i t i e s o f t h eD e p a r t m e n t o fN a t u r a l P r o d u c t so f t h eM e d i t e r r a n e a nA g r o n o m i cI n s i t u t e o fC h a n i a

M. Skoula-Johnson,MAICh,POBox85,73100 Chania,Greece.TheDepartmentofNaturalProductsof theMediterraneanAgronomicInstituteofChaniaperformsandconducts al laimingtotheidentification, sustainableuseandconservationofplantresourcesoftheMediterraneanregionwhichareof

training,research,

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Biotechnologicalapplicationsin theproductionofnaturalproducts

This courseleadsto a DSPU whilestudentsmay continuewith a ninemonthsresearchprojectthatleadstoanMsc.

Followingthecomingintoforceof theConventiononBiologicalDiversity inDecember1994,signatorycountriesthroughouttheworld areengagedinattemptstoputinto practice thevariousarticlesofthetreaty. Thisis beingdone inthecontextofaworldthat isbeing subjectedtorapidand oftendrasticchange,muchofithuman-induced.The course covers aspectson:

theinternational backgroundto theconservationand sustainableuseofbiodiversity,includinglegalinstrumentsandinternationalandregionalorganizations

thedevelopment oftheconcept ofbiodiversity genetic,organismicandecological

howmuchdiversitythereis,wherei t is,how itmay beassessed,m easured andmonitoredthedynamicsof biodiversityanthropogenicandclimaticchangethespecialroleofhumansinunderstandingandmodifyingbiodiversity

theimportanceofgeneticresources,theirassessment,accessibility,exchangeandconservation

t h e evaluationof biodiversityandhumanandsocialvalues

theunderlyingcausesoflossofbiodiversity

t h e conservation andmanagementof biodiversityforsustainableuse-at thebioregional,landscapeandlocallevels

Conservationtechniques - i ns i t u ,ex situ,reintroductions,integratedapproaches

Gathering,managingandsharinginformationonbiodiversity

2. Three-weekcourseonConservation andSustainableUseofPlant Biodiversity

B. ResearchTheresearchactivitiesof theDepartmentonNaturalproductsincludeaspectsofdomestication,cultivation,identification,variationandapplicationsofsecondary metabolitesof wildaromaticandmedicinal plantsof theMediterraneanregion,aswellasaspectsof biotopeconservation forbioregionalmanagementthatareaccomplishedincollaborationwithotherInstitution.TheresearchprojectsthatMAICHhasbeenorisinvolvedinare:

'EU,DG VI,CAMAR(Aug.1991-Jan.1995).ThisprogrammestudiedthevariationinyieldandcompositionofessentialoilsofCoridothymuscapitatus, Origanumvulgaressp.hirtum,SalviafruticosaandSaturejathymbrain relationtodifferentenvironmental f actors.Plantnutritionandreproductivephysiologywerealsostudied.Themain task of theprojectwastoidentifyandreproducecommerciallyimportantgenotypesforcultivation inmarginallands.Furthermore,researchwasconductedon thetraditional usesandtherapeuticapplicationsofnativeplantsofCrete.Additionally,MAIChhas created aHerbarium andisstrivingtocollectsamplesofallnativeplantsofCrete.

.Theprogrammestudies, analyzes anddocumentsIndigenousAgriculturalKnowledgeSystemsin relationtofoodproductionindevelopingcountriesinamultidiscplinaryandcomparativeway.It evaluatesthepotential contributionof suchknowledgetothedevelopmentof alternativeagricultureforfoodshortagereductionandpreservationofnatural r esources. Eventuallyapracticalmodelofintegrationofindigenousknowledgesystemsintosustainabledevelopmentstrategiesindevelopingcountries.

'Identification,preservation,adaptationandcultivationofselectedaromaticandmedicinalplantssuitableofmarginallandsoftheMediterraneanregion

'Indigenousknowledgesystemsforsustainableagricultureindevelopingcountries:towardsanalternativeapproachtofoodshortagereductioninKenyaandIndonesia'EU,DGXII,STD-3(Jan.1993-Jun.1997)

'TowardsaModelofTechnicalandEconomicOptimizationofSpecialistMinorCrops:Aromaticandmedicinalplants'EU,DGVI,AIR3.(Jan.1995-

Dec.1996).

'Contributiontothegeneticimprovementofaromaticandmedicinalplants:acomparativeinselectedspeciesofthegenusOriganum'PENED,GeneralSecretariatofResearchandTechnologyoftheGreekMinistryofDevelopment(June1996-May1998).

Origanumspp.andSalviaspp.:Integratedbreedingresearchtoimprovehomogeneityandqualityofmultifunctionalsecondaryplantproducts'EU,DGVI,FAIR3(Feb.1997-May2000)

'ManagementandprotectionofthethreatenedbiotopesofwesternCretewithecotopesandpriorityspecies'(Jan.1996-Dec.1997)EU,DGXI, LIFE'95.

This concertedactionprogrammeconstitutes toatechnicalandeconomicdatabase onaromaticandmedicinal plantsandtries todevelop a researchmethodologytosupport rapidly thedevelopmentofproductioninEuropetargeting theseller's market. Theprogrammepromotestheexchangesbetweentheresearch teams,producersandindustrial usersinordertostructurethebranch. Finally thereflectiontootheralternativecropsinordertodefineadevelopmentmodel forthese species ataEuropeanlevelwillbeextended.

Themainobjectiveof thisprojectisthecharacterizationofselectedclonesofthespeciesOriganumvulgaresubsp.hirtum, O.onitesandtheirhybridO.?intercedens.Thecharacterizationwillbebasedonmorphological,chemicalandmolecularfeatures.Theaimofthisproject istoproducehomogeneousgenetic material withdesirable features(essential oilyield,essentialoilcomposition,biomass production,andpossibilityofapplicationcertaincollectiontechniques).

'

.Thisprogrammeaimstoimprovehomogeneousqualityformarjoramcreatingahybridbreedingsystem andinoregano species and twosagespeciesusingaselectionprogram meofselfingsofchemotypes.Therewillbeaneffort totransferseedproductiontoMediterraneanregions.In addition,thedegreeofantibacterialandantifungal activity oftheavailablegenetic variabilityoftheessentialoilsandantioxidantactivity associatedwiththe essentialoils will beexamined.

Theobjectiveoftheprogrammeistheformulation andapplicationofanintegratedprojectfortherestorationandconservationofbiotopes,including

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ecotopesand species ofpriorityfortheEuropeanUnionwithinWesternCrete.Therangeof activitiesencompasses5areas which arethreatenedbytheircontinuousdegradation.The p rojectproposesthe followingprotectionandconservation measures.(a)thedevelopmentofmanagementstudiesforthebiotopes,and studies forthesustainabledevelopmentof theseareas(b)theexecutionofemergencyactivitiesfor therestoration andconservation thatwillberecommendedinthestudies(c)thepromotionofthelegislationandadministrationfortheprotectionandmanagement oftheenvironment (d)the creation ofeffectiveprotection strategies(e)thehumanawarenessanddisseminationoftheresults.Thematerializationofthisprojectisexpectedtointerruptthedegradation process intheareasandtoencouragesustainabledevelopmentwhich willensurefutureconservationofthebiotopes.

TheHerbariumoftheMediterraneanAgronomicInstitutehasbeendesignedtoincludevoucherspecimensofallplant taxaof theCretanfloraandit hasthenecessary infrastructureoftheaccurateidentificationofplantspeciesoftheMediterranean region.Thefunctionsof theHerbarium cover:

Contributionsto theMediterraneanflora.

Productionoflocalflorasandcheck-lists.

S ervices whichincludeloans,providing facilitiesforvisitingbotanists,identifyingspecimensrelevanttotheregionanddispatchingdeterminationlists,collecting material from thefieldtobeusedforvariousstudies,such as,anatomy, cytology, ecology,conservation,plantbreeding,pharmacology,biochemistry,ethnobotany.

Educationalpurposes

ABotanical Garden i s currentlybeingdesignedtoholdlivingspecimensoftheMediterraneanFlora.

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C.Trainingandresearchactivitiesaresupportedby:

1. Herbarium-Botanical Garden

2. LaboratoryThelaboratoryofferssupporttoresearchandacademicworkintheareasofphytochemistry, biochemistry,molecularbiology, planttissueculture,plantphysiology, andwildfirecontrolmanagement.

Medicinaland AromaticPlantsinPharmaceuticalandRelatedIndustries(TRUMAP)'.It issupportedjointlybytheGovernmentofTurkeyandUNIDO.Thisunique25-daycourseisattendedeachyearby tenselectedparticipantsnominated bydevelopingcountries.Innineprogrammes,91participantsfrom37countries havebeen trained.

The willtakeplacebetween September8-30,1997inEskisehir.UNDPOfficesand UNIDO-Vienna, Austria canbe contactedforfurther information.Alimited numberofparticipants fromothercountriesmay alsobeadmitteduponpaymentofafee.Furtherinformationonthiscanbeobtainedfrom

The(28thISEO)willbeheld

between September1-3,1997 i nEskisehir.Over200scientistsareexpectedtoattendthis prestigiousmeeting.Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontact

The(3rdICOS)wil lbeheldon

October2-3, 1997inEskisehir.The1stand2nd symposiawereheldin1993and1995inEskisehir. Thetopicofthisyear'ssymposiumis"Make-upProducts".Plenarylectureswillbedeliveredbyesteemed specialistsfromacademiaandtheindustry,and theotherparticipantsareinvitedtomakeposterpresentations.TBAMshouldbecontactedforfurtherinformation.

AnadoluUniversityMedicinaland AromaticPlant andDrug R esearch Centre (TBAM),26470Eskisehir,Turkey.

(90-222)3352952

(90-222)3350127

tbam@vm.baum.anadolu.edu.trorkhcbaser@vm.ba

10thTRUMAP

TBAM.

28th InternationalSymposiumonEssentialOils

TBAM.

3rdInternationalCosmeticsSymposium

http://www.anadolu.edu.tr/anadolu/tbam/index.html

Address:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

Visit TBAM on

T h e s t r u c t u r ea n d a c t i v i t i e s o fT B A M

K.HusnuCan Baser, Director,AnadoluUniversityMedicinalandAromaticPlantandDrugResearchCentre (TBAM), 26470Eskisehir,TurkeyAnadolu UniversityMedicinaland

AromaticPlantandDrugResearchCentre celebratedher10thyearinserviceonNovember19, 1996.

wasestablishedin 1982asaresearchcentreto carryoutpureandappliedresearchintoallaspects ofresearchintomedicinalandaromaticplantsexceptforagriculture.However,

alsoimplementsjointprojectswithagricultural andforestryinstitutions.TBAMhasbeenstrengthenedover theyearsthroughfundsmobilisedbyUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme (UNDP)andUnitedNationsIndustrialDevelopmentOrganisation(UNIDO).Thecentreisequipped withmodernistrumentation,pilotplantsandup-to-dateinformationandcommunicationfacilities,andmannedwithqualifiedpersonnel toconductresearch andserveindustrialclients.

has sofarpublished130researchpapersin refereedinternationaljournals,34papersinTurkishjournalsand65papersinconferenceproceedings. 47manuscriptsarein press inscientificjournals. scientistshavecommunicated184papersin57symposia. Director, Prof. Ba?er,hassofaredited12booksandwritten13project reports.

has beenorganisinganin-plantgrouptrainingprogrammeevery yearsince1988.Theprogrammeistitled'TrainingontheUtilisationof

(TBAM)

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TBAM

TBAM

TBAM

TBAM

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Le2emeColloqueNational surlesPlantesMedicinales.Avril1997,Mostaganem (Algerie)aete organisepar l a F OREM(Fondationnationalepour lapromotiondelasanteetledeveloppementdela RechercheMedicale).Contacter: Pr. M . KHIATI,CentreCultureldeHussein Dey,HusseinDey ALGER.

Aspecialunit,the'CentrefortheStudyof M edicinal andAromatic Plants'wasestablished,affiliatedtoCairoUniversity.ProfessorMohammedYounisHaggag,MEDUSAFocalPointCoordinator forEgypt,was selected tobe thefirstdirectorofthisCentre. Themain objectivesoftheCentreare:

productionofmedicinal plantscomplyingwith therequirementsofthepharmaceuticalcompanies

carrying outresearchto findtheoptimalconditionsforcultivationof medicinalplantswith thehighestyieldsof activeconstituents

carryingout experimentsfortheacclimatizationofimportantexoticmedicinal plants,aswellasthosethatarewildand native, withav iewtoprovidingalocalsourcethatcansupplyandsatisfytheneedsofbothlocal consumptionandexport.

Duetotherapidtechnologicalprogressinagriculturaltechniques,manyeco-compatibleproductivesystems,especial ly in southernItaly, werecompletelyabandonded.Thisreductionhad a strong consequenceonlocalgermplasmthatwasparticularlyadaptedtothosemoretraditionalagriculturalsystems.Theimpactwasespeciallystrongin southernItalysincetheareawas, intherecentpast,particularlyrichinagrodiversity.Local agroecotypes, adapted to

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GaetanoLaghetti,CNR-IstitutodelGermoplasma,Bari,Italy

Recentmeetingson biodiversityinItaly

traditional agricultural systems, areofinterestin thedevelopmentofsustainableagriculture.In fact, low-inputagricultureseemsto provideananswertotheneedsofreducing theimpactofagro-activitiesontheenvironmentand, atthesametime,totheneedsofconservingandpromotingbiodiversity.To increasethescientificdiscussiononthesethemes,the3rdNationalCongress

'. washeldon16and17June1997,attheUniversityofReggioCalabria.

FurtherinformationonthemeetingandabstractsofthepresentationscanbefoundatetheURL"http://www.unirc.it/imtaf", orrequested from:

IstitutodiMicrobiologiaeTecnologiaAgrariaeForestale,P.zza S.Francesco4, 89061Gallina(RC)Italy.Phone+39.965.682566; Fax+39.965.682710;Email I MTAF@CSIINS.UNIRC.IT

Following aninitiativeof theextensionserviceoftheAbruzzoregionin1995,itwasproposedthatminorcerealscouldbeconsideredascommercialcropsinasimilarwaytowhathadbeendonewithseveralfruitorflowerspecies.Thepromotionoftheseminorcerealsimpliesanincreasedactivityinsafeguardingtheirgeneticresources.Thistask isbetter achievedthroughobtainingtherelevanttrademarketlabel-recognition, seed certification,andwiderdisseminationofinformationtobothgrowersandusers.Tothisend,severalnationalandinternationalresearchinstitutions, togetherwiththeextension servicesoftheAbruzzoregionand theItalianFarmersConfederationorganisedameetingheldinFrancavillaalMare(Chieti)on28 June1996.Themeetingwasentitled

Furtherinformationandproceedingsrequestsshouldbeaddressedto:

,CERMIS,ViaAbbadiadiFiastra3,62029Tolentino(MC),Italy,PhoneandFax+39.733.203437; Emailori@wnt.itor to: Dr. Stefano Padulosi, IPGRI-UMSProject, ViadelleSetteChiese142,00145Roma,ItalyEmail s.padulosi@cgnet.com

'Biodiversity-technologiesandquality

'MinorCereals-genetic,agronomy,nutritionalaspectsandstrategiesfortheirexploitation'.

R RIANA ORFIRID . O P

M o r o c c o

P o r t u g a l

Aseminaron'Lessubstances naturellesauservicedel'industrieetdelamedecine'was heldon 25-26April1997,atMeknes(Morocco).Contacter:UniversiteMoulayIsmail,FacultedesSciences, B.P.4010Beni M'hamed,Morocco.

TheLaboratoryofPharmacognosyofPharmacyFacultyofUniversityofCoimbra, underthedirectionofProf.Doutor A.ProencaBiology ofSciencesFacultyofLisbonandthe Botanic Departement ofSciencesFacultyofCoimbra.Financialsupport from JuntaNacional d eInvestigacaoCientifica (GovernmentalDepartmentfor ScientificDevelopment).

'Studiesontheessentialoil ofJuniperusspp fromPortugal'. ThisprojectinvolvethecollaborationoftheDepartmentofVegetal

'Composition study o f essentialoilsfrom Tras-os-Montesaromaticplants, concerningagriculturalandindustrialprofitinfuture'.

TheDireccaoRegionaldeAgricultura(RegionalDirectionof Agriculture)fromTras-os-Montesispartenerinthisproject. ThisworkissupportedfinanciallybytheMinisteriodaAgricultura(AgricultureDepartment).

Theseprojects involve thestudyofthechemical composition oftheessentialoilsoftheseplantsiscarriedoutbymeansofseveralanalyticalmethods(GLC, G LC/MS, 13C-NMR),and inorderto studytheinfraspecificvariabilityineachtaxon,chemicalanalysesareLastingthreeweeksthecoursebrought togetherspecialistsindesertandarid zonesfrommanycountries.

c'estletitred'un seminaire international tenule5-6et7Decembre1996aDjerba(Tunisie).Ceseminairearegroupeplusde100chercheursduMaghreb,d'Afrique,d'Europe et d'Asie. Uneattentionparticulierea eteaccordeea:

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La maitrisedelagestion d esressourcesnaturellesdansleszonesarides.

L'evaluationdesprogrammesencoursderealisation

madeonrepresentativesamplesfromseveral populations andonindividualsamplesineachpopulation.

The'CentrodeEstudosFarmaceuticos',(PharmaceuticalStudiesCenter)ofPharmacyFacultyisgivensupport fortwootherprojects:oneinMedicinalplants( . and

)anditsanti-oxidantactivityandtheotheraboutsedativepropertiesin

Thecaper,Capparisspinosa L., wasthesubjectofaseminar heldon6Apr i l bytheMinistry ofAgriculture i n Tunisia.Thet opicscoveredincluded biologyanddistribution, geography andtaxonomy, syntaxonomyandeconomicimportanceandbiotechnologyandmultiplication.Ofthe250speciesinthegenus, onlysix, withfivevarieties,arefoundin thecountriesoftheMediterraneanbasin.daCunhaisdevelopingtwoscientificprojects, bothinaromaticplantsandessentialoils:

Acourseon the

'(Managementofnatural resourcesanddevelopment inaridzones)washeld atMedenine(Tunisia), 11-30November1996.

This training course wasorganized byCIHEAM-Montpellier,FranceandtheInstitutdesRegionsAridesdeMedenineandwassupportedbytheEuropeanUnion(DG1)and theFrenchMinisteredesAffairesEtrangeres.

Ladefinition des prioritespourlaluttealong terme contre ladesertificationetledeveloppementdel'aridoculture.

Ceseminaire est.organiseaveclacollaboration del'UnionEuropeenne,duCIHEAM,del'ORSTOM del'UNESCOetdelaFAO.

Thymusssp Rosmarinusofficinalis

Valeriana officinalisand Passifloraedulis

'Lagestiondesressourcesnaturellesetdeveloppementdeszonesarides

T u n i s i e

Capparis spinosaL.

Internationalcourses

Al'initiativeduCIHEAMMontpellier(FRANCE)etl'institutdesregionsaridesdeGabes(TUNISIE)etdanslecadreduReSEAUPARCOURS unseminaireportant sur 'Gestiondel'espacepastoralenregionsaridesetsemi-arides's'est derouleles17-18et19 Octobre1996aGabesetaregroupedesspecialistesdeFrance,Maroc,Mali,AlgerieMauritanie,Egypte etTunisie.

Danslecadre delamise enoeuvredesdispositionsdelaConventiondesNAtions UniessurlaDiversiteBiologique ratifiee parlaTunisieenMai 1993,leministere del'Environnement etdel'Amenagement d u Territoire a etecharged'effectuer une

. CeprojetestfinanceparlePNUEetleGEF.

Diversesactions ontetes entreprisesen vued'arreterdesstartegiesetdemesures d e conservationintegreeaudevellopement socioeconomique dupays.Parmiles recommandationsadopteesparticulierement durant lesateliers tenuesle26-27-28Octobre1995,9-10Janvier1996 etles18-19-20 et21Fevrier1997onnote:

InventairedescollectionsexistantesProspection etcollecte

Evaluationdesressourcesgenetique

Documentation etinformation(Basededonnees)

Conservation (Banquesdegenes).

Appui auxstructuresexistantes

Inventairedesespeces etvarietesmenacees

Gestion rationnelledesecosystemes

Installation d'observatoiresdela

EtudeNationalesurlaDiversiteBiologique

1. Lacreationd'uneComissionNationale pour laConservation etlaBiodiversite.

2. LaCreationd'uncentreNationaldesRessourcesGenetiques.

3. Ladefinitiond'unestrategieenmatieredeconservation etutilisationdurabledelabiodiversite.

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EtudesurladiversitebiologiqueenTunisie

biodiversite

Mesuresincitativesparlapromotiondusavoirfaireetdespratiqueslocaleset traditionnellesdans laperspectivesd'uneconservationetd'uneutilisationdurabledelabiodiversite

Utilisation desressourcesgenetiqueslocales danslesprogrammesd'amelioration.

Redefinirnosmethodesdeselectionpourl'an2010(adaptationalasecheresse,au froidpourexploiterleseauxpluviales,modifierlestechniqueshabituelles)

UncentreInternationaldesTechnologiesdel'Environnementaetecreeen Tunisie.Cecentreest construitgrace auconcoursdes gouvernementsduRoyaumede Suede etdelaRepubliqueFederaled'Allemagne.

Cecentreestplacesousletutelleduministreredel'environnemen etdel'amenagementduterritoireet dontl'activiteestrepartieen quatredepartements;

Departementdumilieunaturel

Departement dumilieuhydrique

Departementdumilieuatmospherique

Departementdesdechetssolidesetdelapollutionindustrielle.

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June1997

C o u n t r y N e w s

A l g e r i aAlgeriaissubdividedprincipallyintothreelargezones:(1)alittoralzoneextendingon 1200kmofcoast,withaMediterraneanclimate;(2) a zonewithacontinental climate, thatcompriseshigh tables,lands,steppes;and(3) aSaharanzone withdesertic climatecomprisingsandydunes,plainsandhigh mountainswith a harsh climate,shelteringaspecificvegetationtype.Often,thesedifferentreliefs andclimatesconstitutenaturalbarriers tothedispersal ofplantspecies.

Accordingto Ozenda(1983),outof1200 speciesintheSaharan floraabout25% areendemic.Quezel & Medail(1995)report256speciesendemic toAlgeria.Also,thesituationofAlgeriaintheMediterraneanbasinseemstopresentaparticularinterestforitsrich,aboundinganddiversifiedflora.Thisflora playsan importantrole in theecological balanceoftheregion.But,thesocialandeconomicaldevelopmentofAlgeriaandtherepeated firesduringthesummerperiods haveputamajorpressureonthenaturalenvironment.Becauseofthis,thenationalf loraisinastateof continual degradationandthisleadstothedecreasein rangeordisappearanceofspecies.Thus,amongthe3139plantspeciescited byQuezel& Santa(1962)inAlgeria,1611 areconsideredasrare,andtheserepresent51%ofthetotalflora.This, shows theextentofthedanger thatthreatenstheAlgerianflora.Thesenumberswouldhave increasedconsiderably totheextentthatpeoplein thetownsandcountrysidearestill verymuchattunedto theutilisationof wildplantsintheirdaily lifelike:

furnishingediblefruits, such a s

.

suchas:

Arborescent speciesArbutusunedo,

Ceratoniasiliqua,Myrtuscommunis,Opuntiaficus-indica,Quercusballota,Zizyphuslotus

Herbaceous speciesAsphodelusmicrocarpa(roots),Cichorium intybus,Cynaracardunculus,Foeniculumvulgare(stems),Malvasylvestris,Menthapulegium,Mentharotundifolia,Nasturnum o fficinale,Podospermumlaciniatum,Rumexvesicarius,Smyrniumolusatrum, Sonchus

Foodplants

oleraceus, Spinaciaoleracea,Urospermumpicroides.

Artemisia herba-alba,AtriplexCeratonia siliqua,Ficuscarica,Fraxinusexcelsior,Hedysarumcoronarium,Loliummultiflorum, Poabulbosa,Stipatenacissima

Chenopodiaceae,Cruciferae,Gramineae Leguminosae

Acaciaraddiana,RhusoxyacanthaandRhuspentaphyllaAristidapungens Ericaarborea Ferulacommunis Retamaraetam Indigoferaargentea,Lawsoniainermis,PistacialentiscusandQuercusilexSpartium junceum

Daturastramonium,Papaverrhoeas,Tussilagofarfara

Inulaviscosa,Peganumharmala,Opuntiaficus-indica

JuniperusoxycedrusPinus

Borago officinalis,Rhamnusalaternus

Eryngium maritimum

Globulariaalypum,Viburnumtinus

Laurusnobilis,Menthaviridis,Ocimumbasilicum,Petroselinumcrispum,Sinapisalba,Thymusvulgaris

Fordomesticated animals,suchas:spp.,

andmanyotherherbaceous speciesinthe

and .

(leathertanning),(fibres),

(tobacco pipemaking),(basketmaking),

(ashesfortobacco),

(dyeplants),(fibres).

Manyotherligneousspeciesareusedinthemakingofdomesticinstrumentsinwoodandasfuelforheating.

:

Lavandulastoechas, Resedavillosa,Rosmarinusofficinalis,Rutachalepensis

(cade oil), spp.(pineresin)

Thesearealsousedbytownandruralpopulations.

Antiasthmatic

Antirheumatic:

Antiseptic,antispasmodic:

Chestcomplaints:

Diuretic:

Skinirritations:

Purgative:

Culinaryherbs:

Forage plants

Plants usedin thetraditionalhandicrafts

Plants usedin traditionalmedecine

Aromaticplantsandcondimentplants

Decoctions:

Flavouringbeverages:

Flavouringcakesandpastries:

Trigonella foenum-graecum

Salviaofficinalis,Lippiacitriodora,Origanumvulgare,Paronychiaargentea

Anethumgraveolens, Nigellaarvensis.

Theirrationalexploitationofwildplantsbytraditionalhealersandherboristsisveryimportant,eveninthelarge towns.Algiersitself hasabout150herborists.

Concernedbytheneed forpreservationofitsnaturalresources,theAlgerianstatehassetup anadminstrativeframework(ministry,directoratesfortheenvironment)aswellpassinglegislation,such as:

Regulationn°6728 oftheDecember20th1967relativetotheexcavationandtotheprotection ofsites andhistorical and natural monuments.

Regulationn°7338ofJuly23th1973, coveringtheratificationoftheconventionconcerningtheprotectionofthe world heritage,bothculturaland n atural.

Regulationn°7543ofthe17thofJune1975,coveringacountrycode:regulationof theroutesthroughthesteppe.

Decreesn°82437;n°82439; n°82440ofthe 11th D ecember1982 includingtheratificationof:

the cooperationprotocolbetweencountriesofNorth Africa forthestruggleagainstthedesertification,signedonthe2ndofMay 1977.

the conventionrelativeto thewetzonesofan internationalimportance signed onthe2ndofFebruary1971inIran.

the African conventionon theconservationofnatureand naturalresources, signedonthe15thofSeptember 1963inAlgiers.

Decreen°82498of December25rd,1982bearingtheAlgerianadhesiontotheconventionontheinternational tradeofwildthreatenedfauna andflora,signedonthe3rdofMarch1973 i n Washington.

Decreen°83459ofJuly23rd,1983fixing thestatusofnational parks.

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continuedonpage28

O P T I M A

(Organization forthePhyto-TaxonomicInvestigationoftheMediterranean Area)OPTIMAisaninternationalassociationofbotanistsinterestedintheMediterraneanarea.Itencompassesbotanyinits widest senseanddealswith allgroupsofplantsand alldisciplineswhichhaveanimpactonsystematicstudies.

ThepurposesofOPTIMAaretostimulateand coordinateresearchactivities,exploration,conservationandresource studies within theMediterraneanarea; topromotethecollationand exchangeofinformationregardingtheplantl ifeoftheregion;tofoster thetrainingof Mediterraneanplant taxonomists;andtosupporteffortstostrengthen theresourcesandtaxonomistinfrastructureofMediterraneaninstitutions.

Atpresent,atotalof twelvecommissions areactivelyworkingonspecificresearchprojectsor initiatives.These i nitiativesare varied andcoverdifferentaspectsofMediterraneanbotany.TheCommissionfortheConservation ofPlantResourcesisactivelyworkingon theconsolidationof a n etwork ofseedbanksintheMediterraneanorientedtotheconservation ofwild species.OtheractivitiescarriedoutbythisCommission arethe maintenanceofadatabaseonstudies onthebiology ofthreatenedplantsof theMediterraneanbasin and Macaronesia,and theadvanceintheknowledgeofwildrelativesofcultivatedplant species.TheCommissionfor Karyosystematicsmaintainsadatabase with k aryologicalinformation onMediterraneanplants.Additionalinformationiscollected andorganizedby theCommissionforCurrentResearchandtheCommissionforFloristic Investigation.TheformerperiodicallyproducesacatalogueofcurrentresearchonMediterraneanbotanywhereasthe latterreviewscollectingactivities throughouttheMediterranean.The CommissionforFloristicInvestigationalsoorganizesan annualbotanical expeditiontoacertainareaoftheMediterranean.ThelastexpeditionwasheldinCalabria(Italy)inJune1997.Anothertwo

activecommissionsaretheCommissionforLichens,workingatpresenton thecompilationofageneralchecklistofMediterraneanLichensandthe CommissionfortheMapping ofOrchidsin theMediterraneanArea.OPTIMA'sPublicationCommissionsupervises theeditionof

and twopublicationsdedicatedtobiogeography,floristicsandsystematicbotany,andpublishedby theHerbarium MediterraneumPanormitanum.AnotherOPTIMApublicationisthewhichisperiodicallypublishedbytheOPTIMASecretariatinMadridandincludesinformationonthelatestdevelopments, activitiesandpublicationsinMediterraneanbotany.Afurther initiativeinthisfieldistheeditionofapopularbookonMediterraneanplantlifebytheCommissionfortheDiffussionofKnowledgeonMediterraneanPlants.Awareof thelatestadvancesincommunications, OPTIMAhasrecentlyestablishedthe CommissionforInformationTransferandNetworking, with themandatetopromoteandexpeditethecoordinatedpresenceofOPTIMA,includingdataandresultsgeneratedby i t sCommissions,on theInternetby usingWWWaccessfacilities.

Everythreeyears,OPTIMAorganizesan international meeting structuredinmultidisciplinary symposiawhichcoverdifferentaspectsofMediterraneanbotany.TheIXOPTIMAMeeting isscheduledforMay1998andwillbeheldinParis.

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactDr. ,OPTIMASecretary,Dpto.BiologiaVegetal,E.U.I.T.Agricola,UniversidadPolitecnica,E-28040Madrid, Spain.Tel.: (+34)13365934;Fax:(+34)13365656;E-mail:iriondo@ccupm.upm.es;WWW:

FloraMediterranea Bocconea,

OPTIMANewsletter

OS RIONDOJ M.I

http://www.bgbm.fu-berlin.de/OPTIMA/

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F A O(FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations)

D. CooperandP.Griffee,FAO,VialedelleTerme diCaracalla, 00100 Rome,Italy

In May, overninedays,representativesofonehundred and fiftytwocountrieswereinRomefortheseventh regularsession ofthe Commissionon GeneticResourcesforFoodandAgriculture(CGRFA). Theirmain taskwastocontinuethedelicatenegotiationsfortherevisionoftheInternationalUndertakingon PGRFA.Thenegotiatorstackledthe difficultissuesofaccesstogeneticresources, andthesharing ofbenefitsderivedfromtheiruse. Particular attentionfocusedontheissueof " Farmers'Rights"thatrecognizesthe enormouscontributionmadebyfarmersandtheircommunitiesin theconservationanddevelopmentofPGRFA.This wasoneoftheareasoffiercecontention;theAngolanRepresentative,summedupthepositionoftheAfricannations:'Whatis infarmers'fieldsisfarmers'property, andisnotourstonegotiateaway'.

Satisfactionwasexpressed attheprogress madeinthenegotiations.Delegatescalledforhigh-levelpoliticalinvolvementinthisissue.

ThiswasthefirstsessionoftheCommissionunderitsbroadenedmandatewhichnowincludes forestplants, animalandf ish geneticresourcesimportantforfoodandagriculture.Inter-governmentalTechnicalWorkingGroupswereestablished.Oneto dealwithmonitoringtheprogressontheGlobalPlanof Action forthe ConservationandSustainable Useof PlantGeneticResourcesforFoodandAgriculturewhichwasadoptedby themajorInternationalTechnical ConferenceonPlantGeneticResourcesheld inJune1996in Leipzig.Theotherto furtherdevelop theGlobalStrategyforthe

Two busymonthsforFAO'sgeneticresourcesandbiodiversityprogrammes

Atthesametime,delegatesemphasisedthe n eed to maintainaccesstosamplesofplantgeneticresources,toenablecontinuedprogressinimprovingcrop productivityandagricultural sustainability

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N e w s f r o m o r g a n i z a t i o n sJune1997

Management ofAnimalGeneticResources. Harnessinggeneticresourcesfor foodandagriculturewillbekeytomeetingtheobjectiveof'foodforall'setby heads ofstate atFAO'sWorldFoodSummit lastyear.TheCGRFASecretary,Dr.JoseEsquinas-Alcazarpointedouthowrapidlythebasisoffoodproduction isbeing whittledaway:'Over thousandsofyears,men andwomenfarmershavedevelopeduntoldnumbersoflocalvarieties-'landraces'-thatsuitedlocalconditionsandneeds.Thegeneticbasisofagriculturewhich wehaveinheritedfrom ourancestorsisnowseriouslythreatened: l essthan100cultivatedplantsandfiveanimalspeciesnowprovideover75percentofhumanfood.Fourplantspeciesalonerice,maize, wheatandpotato,andthreeanimal species cattle,swine andchickens, providemorethan halfof it.Yetmorethan80,000biologicalspeciesintropicalforestsareconsiderededible.In fisheries,onlytwogenera,carpand tilapia,haveseensignificantdomesticationforworldfood production.’

Much progresswas madein JunewhentheSecretariatsof F AOand theConventiononBiologicalDiversitymetatFAOforaweekofdiscussions,supportedby theNetherlandswithIPGRIalsotakingpart.The theme was'Farmingsystems:ApproachesfortheSustainableuseand ConservationofAgricultural BiodiversityandAgro-ecosystems'. Theorganizationsdiscussedwaysthey couldsupportcountriesindevelopingnationalprogrammes,plansandstrategiesforagrobiodiversityconservationanduseinthewidercontext ofbiodiversity i ngeneral.Progresswasmade ondevelopingajointprogrammeofworkonagrobiodiversity asafo l lowuptothemeetingoftheConferenceofthePartiestothe ConventionlastNovember.AMemorandum ofUnderstandingisbeingprepared.CasestudiesonIPMand aquaculturewillbepresentedto theConvention'sSBSTTAattheirnext meetinginSeptember.

EarlierinJune,ProfessorVernonHeywood,convenor oftheresearchcomponenton'Conservation ofthegeneticdiversityof wildspecies'of theDIVERSITASprogramme, visitedFAO andhelddiscussionsinvolving

technicalstafffromFAO,IPGRI andthe Commission.ItwasagreedinprincipletoconveneaseriesofmeetingshostedbyDIVERSITASatwhichFAO,DIVERSITASandotherrel evantorganizationswouldexchangeinformationandconcepts regardingthegeneticconservationofwildspeciesofinterestto food,agricultureandotheraspectsof human livelihoodsecurityandputinhandaninventoryofactivitiesandidentifyactiongaps,andthenestablishprioritiesforactioninthelightofthemandatesoftheorganizationsinvolved.Thiswouldcontributetotheworkprogrammeonagrobiodiversity establishedby theCoPinBuenosAires,includingthejointactivitiesbetweenFAOand theCBDSecretariatreferred toabove,aswellastotherelevantsectionsoftheGlobalPlanofAction.

Theconsortiumoforganizationsinvolvedinthemeetingscouldserveasameansofpromotingcooperationandcoordinatingthoseactivitiesintheareaofgeneticconservationofwildspeciesthatarenotatpresentcloselylinked.

biologicaldiversity.Some80 percentofthepopulationofthedevelopingworlduseNWFPforhealthandnutritionalneeds.Severalmillionhouseholdsworld-widedependheavilyonthese p roductsforsubsistenceconsumptionand/orincome.NWFPalsoproviderawmaterialsforlarge-scaleindustrial processing,includingforinternationallytradedcommoditiesasfoodsandbeverages,confectionery,flavourings, perfumes, medicines,paintsorpolishes.Presently,atleast150NWFPare significantintermsofinternationaltrade,includinghoney,gumArabic, rattan, cork,forestnutsandmushrooms,essentialoils,andplantoranimal partsforpharmaceutical products.

Since1991the FAOForestryDepartmenthasmaintainedaprogramme,'ThepromotionanddevelopmentofNon-WoodForestProducts',aimedatenhancing thesustainableutilization ofNon-WoodForestProductsinordertocontributetothewisemanagementoftheworld'sforests andthe conservationoftheirbiodiversity, andtoimprovefoodsecurity forruralpeople.

Theprogramme, which isamongFAO'spriority forestry activities,comprisesthree mainelements:

gathering,analysis anddisseminationofkeytechnicalinformation onNWFP;

full appraisal ofthesocio-economiccontribution ofNWFP;

improvednetworkingamongindividuals andorganizationsconcernedwithNWFP.

Specific categoriesof NWFP andrelevantissuesinrelationtotheirdevelopmentarehighlightedinthepublicationseries,'Non-Wood ForestProducts'.Nine volumeshave beenpublishedtodateincluding:

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Gathering,analysisanddissemination ofkey technicalinformation

FlavoursandFragrancesofPlantOrigin;Natural Colorantsand dyestuffs;EdibleNuts;Non-WoodForestProductsforRuralIncomeandSustainableForestry; Traderestrictionsaffectinginternationaltrade in non-woodforestproducts;andDomestication andCommercialization

Non-WoodForestProductsPaulVantomme,FAO, VialedelleTermedi Caracalla,00100Rome,Italy

Theterm 'non-woodforestproducts'(NWFP)andthesimilarterms'minor-',"secondary-",and "non-timber-" forestproducts,haveemergedasumbrellaexpressionsforthevastarrayofbothanimal andplantresourcesotherthanwood(ortimberinthecaseof 'non-timber-')derived from forestsor foresttreespecies.NWFPmaybegatheredfromthewild,producedas(semi-)domesticatedplantsinplantationsorinagroforestryschemes,orproducedinintermediateproductionsystemsofvaryingdegreesofdomestication.Theirwildorsemi-domesticated statusdistinguishesthemfromwell-establishedagriculturalcropssuchasoilpalm,cocoa,coconut, rubber orcoffee.

Non-wood forest productshaveattractedconsiderableglobalinterestinrecentyearsduetoincreasingrecognitionoftheircontributiontohousehold economiesand foodsecurity, to somenationaleconomies,andtoenvironmentalobjectives,includingtheconservationof

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ofNWFPthroughAgroforestrySystems.

In l i n e withtherecommendationsoftheWorldFoodSummit(Rome1996),special attentionhas beenfocusedonnon-woodforestresourcesthatare (orhave thepotential to be)usedasfood,food additives, orformedicinalpurposes.In thisregard, the Non-woodForestProductsserieswillpublishvolumesonTropical Palms, andMedicinal Plantsin. 1997.Volumes o n'HarvestingofNWFP','NWFPfrompines',and'TheContributionofNWFPtofoodsecurity'(workingtitlesonly) arepresentlybeingstudiedor areunder development.

Comprehensivestatistical d ataonproductionandtrade ofNWFP areessentialfor accurateappraisaloftheirtruesocio-economic contributiontosustainabledevelopment.This,inturn,willfacilitate theelaboration(andacceptancebypolicy andseniordecisionmakers)of appropriatepoliciesleadingtoamoreequitableaccesstonon-wood forestresourcesandtoafairdistributionof benefitsobtainedfrom NWFP.AlthoughFAOhasalreadyassembledawealthofinformation onthesocio-economic roleofmanyNWFP,the informationbaseisstillfarfrombeingcomprehensiveorglobalinscope.

Based onresponses toaquestionnaireused toidentify allthoseagencies,companiesandindividualswhoareinvolvedinoneway oranotherwiththepromotionanddevelopmentofNWFP,andmayhavesocio-economicdataonNWFP,adatabaseisbeingdevelopedto storeandretrievedataon:organizations,agenciesand companies;thelocationandkind ofproductswhich arethe focus oftheir work;thesocio-economiccontributionofNWFP;critical gaps i n thematicissuesorgeographiccoverage.AdirectoryoforganizationsinvolvedinNWFPwillbepublishedundertheNon-WoodForestProductsseriesandwillalso beavailableon theInternet.

To i m provenetworking,an annualbulletin,'Non-Wood News', compiledfrom voluntarycontributionslinks

Appraisalofthesocio-economiccontribution ofNWFP

Improvednetworking

morethan 1,200relevantindividualsandorganizationsworld-wide.Recentissuesofthisbulletinareavailableonthe Internet(http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/forestry/nwnews).To increaseawarenesson NWFPandstrengthennationalcollaborationattheregional level,FAO'sWoodand Non-woodProductsUtilizationBranch(FOPW)hasorganizedthreeregionalexpertconsultations:AsiaandPacificRegion,Bangkok,Thailand,1991;AnglophoneAfricanCountries,Arusha,Tanzania,1993;LatinAmericaandCaribbean,Santiago, Chile, 1994).Twoglobalexpertconsultations havealsobeen organized: 'Social,EconomicandCulturalDimensionsofNWFP',Bangkok, Thailand, 1994;andthe'Interregional ExpertConsultationonNWFP',Yogyakarta,Indonesia,1995.During1997,twoworkshopswillbeco-organizedbyFOPW: 'Medicinal,CulinaryandAromaticPlantsin theNearEast', Cairo, Egypt,19-21May;and'ExpertConsultation onNWFPinthe Congo Basin', inCamerooninSeptember(dateandvenuestilltobedetermined).Inaddition,preparationhasstarted forexpertconsultationson'NWFPfromBorealForests'and on'NWFPfromtheNorthAmericanRegion'.

TheheterogeneousnatureofNWFPandthemultitudeoftheirend-usescallsformultidisciplinary involvementandcoordinatedefforts.Anumberofactivitieshavebeenstartedrecentlyincollaborationwith otheragenciesandNGOs, dealingwithspecificaspectsofNWFP,including:UNIDO(processing), ICRAF(domestication),GiftsofHealth(aUK-basedNGOonmedicinal plants).

Chief,Woodand Non-woodProductsUtilization BranchForestProductsDivisionFAOVialedelle TermediCaracalla00100Rome,ItalyTel:39-6-52254056FAX: 39-6-52255137E-mail: Paul.Vantomme@fao.orgIntert:http://www.fao.org

Requestsforadditionalinformationshouldbeaddressedto:

I C U C(InternationalCentreforUnderutilisedCrops)

Dr.NazmulHaq,Int. CentreforUnderutilised CropsLanchesterBuilding, UniversityofSouthamptonSouthampton SO17 1BJ,UK.

TheInternationalCentreforUnderutilisedCrops(ICUC), anautonomous,non-profit,scientificresearch and training centrewasestablishedin1988.Thegoal oftheCentre i s food security, nutritionandeconomicwelfareofhumanbeingsimprovedthroughthe sustainableandincreasedeconomicproductionforfoodandindustrialrawmaterials,byassessing,developing andutilisingtheuntappedbiologicaldiversity ofunderutilisedcropsand species.

ICUChasbeen active i n a surveytoassessthegeneticdiversityandstatusofgeneticerosionoftropicalfruittreesinAsia. However, manyofthesespecies arenow becomingscarceduetoerosionoftheirnaturalhabitats.Theobjectiveistodeterminethenationalpriority species,assess theirgeneticdiversityandusethisdiversity fordevelopmentthrougha n etworkofscientistswho areinvolvedin tropicalfruitsresearch i n theregion.BecauseoftheinterestshownbytheNationalAgricultural Research Systems(NARS),aNetworkon UnderutilisedFruitsforAsia (UTFANET)hasbeenestablishedincollaborationwithFAO,IPGRI, APAARIandCSCtopromoteandcommercialisethepriorityspecies.Already eightgovernmentsof theregionhaveagreedto worktogetherandten priority speciesforthe regionhavebeenagreed. ProjectsfundedbytheBritishODAonthegeneticdiversity,germplasmcollectionanddevelopmentofpropagationsystemsoftwopriorityspecies(Jackfruit andPummelo)startedinDecember1995.

Aregionalnetworkfor southernandeastern Africanunderutilisedcrops(SEANUC)wasestablishedin 1995incooperationwiththeCSCundertheaegisof FAO,followingaresolutionmadeat a regionalmeetingon G eneticResourcesand UtilisationofUnderutilisedCropsin SouthernandEastern Africa heldin 1995. Priorityspecies forthenetwork havebeen

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identifiedandaprojectstarted oninformation gatheringontheconservation statusanduseofgeneticresourcesin 12participating countries.

ICIC usesthecomparativeadvantagesofnationalinstitutionsindevelopingcountries. A goodexampleonfieldwork onvariabilityanddomesticationof wildspeciesistheICUC SheanutprojectinWestAfrica,implementedincollaboration withtheCocoaResearchInstituteofGhanaat itsnorthernsubstationat BoleandfundedbytheLverhulmeTrust, U.K.The researchinvolvedafarmer-participatorysurveyinwhichthe farmers (whodonotactuallyfarm thetreesbutcollectthenutsfromwildtrees thatarevaluedandpreservedin theenvironment)assessedthegeneticdiversity andidentified the'best' trees forconservation.

Asimilarprojecton indigenousvegetablesofSouthernAfricastartedinSeptember1996. Indigenousvegetablesareimportantforsubsistencefarmers asthey obtainnutritionfrom them. ICUC incooperation withthe UniversityofFortHare, South Africa, hasdeveloped aprojectonthecollectionandassessmentofthegeneticdiversity inthree species (Amaranthussp.,Cleomegynandraand Tylosemaesculentum)fortheiruse i n crop improvement. The

projectisfunded bytheUKOfficeofScienceandTechnology.

ICUCrunscoursesoverseasinpartnershipwithUniversitiesandResearch Organisations.A3-weekcoursewasorganizedon 'Geneticresourcesofunderutilised crops:conservatioinandutilisation'intheMalaysianAgriculturalUniversity(UPM). A 2-weekcourse o n'Conservationmanagementandutilisationoftropicalfruits'hasalsobeenarrangedjointlywithIPGRIinIndia.

ICUChaspublishedanumberof booksongeneticresourcesofunderutilisedcrops.Theseinclude:'UnderutilisedTropical PlantGeneticResources:Conservationand utilisation';'Utilisationof UnderutilisedCropsinSouthernandEasternAfrica';and'PromotionofTraditional andUnderutilisedCrops'.

ICUChasorganisedseveralregionalandinternational conferences. Themostrecentones were: 'GeneticresourcesandunderutilisedcropsinSouthernandEasternAfrica'atNelspruit, SouthAfricaand'Aninternational conferenceondomestication,productionandutilisationofnewcrops: Practicalapproaches'held intheU.K.in1996.

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N e w s a n d n o t e sA d o m e s t i c a t i o np r o g r a m m e f o rM e d i t e r r a n e a nl e g u m e s h r u b sIn1985,alivingcollection ofshrubby,nonspinyleguminousplantswasestablishedasacomplementtotheseedbankattheDepartmentofPlantBiologyoftheEscuelaTecnicaSuperiordeIngenierosAgronomos inMadrid.Afterover10yearsofdirectsamplingfromwildpopulationsandgermplasm exchangewithbotanicalgardensand similarinstitutions,over400taxaarestoredasseeds andagrowing plantcollectionof50differenttaxaand 70differentpopulationsisnowbeinggrownat theexperimental fieldsoftheuniversity.Moreover,a frozencollectionofstrainsofpotentially specificRhizobiumtaxacompletethiseffort.Themaingenerapresentinthiscollectionare:

Some ofthe above-mentionedtaxahave beenintensivelypropagatedduetoscarcityinnatureorremarkableusefulnessin forageproductionduringunfavourable seasons,inrehabilitationofdegraded soilsorinincreasinggrowthspeed innativetreesoftheMediterraneanspontaneous woods.

Wearenowlooking forfurthercollaborationswithotherinterestedinstitutionswiththe purpose ofincreasing o u r collectionandexchangingsamples andbibliographyontheleguminousfloraoftheMediterraneanbasin.

Dept. BiologiaVegetal,EscuelaTecnicaSuperiorde IngenierosAgronomos,Universidad Politecnica,CiudadUniversitaria,E-28040Madrid,Spain

Anthyllis,Chamaecytisus,Colutea,Coronilla,Cytisus,Dorycnium,Genista,Hedysarum,Hippocrepis,Medicago,Onobrychis,Teline andTrigonella.

Contactaddress:OS UIS ERESUELAERNANDO ONZ L EZ NDR S

J L C &F G A ,

EA E

M e d i c i n a l p l a n t so f t h e M a g h r e b

B i o l o g y i n t h eT w e n t y F i r s tC e n t u r y

IUCN-TheWorld ConservationUnionisfinancingin1996-97aprogrammeofinventoryandconservationofmedicinal plantsof Algeria, Egypt,Libya, MoroccoandTunisia. Theshort-termobjectivesare:

Inventoryof medicinalplants

Development ofanationalstrategyfortheconservationofmedicinalplants

Identification ofimportantregionsformedicinal plants

ThecoordinationofthisprogrammeisbeingundertakenbytheAssociationTunisiennedeProtection delaNatureet del'Environnment(ATPNE).

TheArab BiologistsUnionincooperationwith RoyalJordanianBiologistswillholdasymposiumon

on8-11 November1997inAmman,Jordan.Thesymposiumwilldeal withthedifferentcomponentsofbiodiversityintheArabcountriesinWestAsiaaswellasinNorthAfrica.It willcover:plants,animalsandmi croorganisms.Stresswi l lmadeonthe characteristicbiodiversityinthispartoftheworld.Thepresentstatusofbiodiversitywillbemonitoredandtheeffortsforconservationwillbediscussed. Thiswil lgiveanopportunityforexperienceexchangeandforcooperationbetweenthedifferentcountriesandinstitutionsworkingonbiodiversity.SymposiumlanguagewillbeArabicandEnglish.

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BiodiversityintheArabCountries

A n t h r o p o l o g i s tw o r k i n g o n p l a n tg e n e t i cr e s o u r c e sJoshkaWessels,AssociateExpert-Regional Information Officer, will beworking atthe IPGRI-WANA regionalofficein Aleppo, Syria.ThepositionhasbeencreatedfortheWANAgrouptogivespecial attentiontotheimportantarea ofinformation servicesandpublicationsintheregionalcontext.

JoshkaWessels studied visualanthropologyin Leiden, theNetherlands.Shewroteherthesisoncommunication within a healtheducationprogrammeinSudanandproducedseveral videosandacd-romduringherstudies.The mainfocusofherworkwillbeoninformationservices suchaslibrary services,newsletters, audiovisuals,Internetandpublicawarenessmaterials.Attentionwillalsobegiventodocumentationofindigenousknowledge ofPGRintheWANA region asJoshkahasananthropological background.

June1997

UNEP.United Nations EnvironmentProgramme. Distributed byOxfordUniversityPress, NewYork andOxford. 1 997. pp.viii + 2 64.ISBN:(PBK) 0-19-521349-1,ISBN:0-19-521351-3,ISSN: 0-1366-8080.PaperbackUS$24.95; hardcoverUS$39.95.

GlobalEnvironmentOutlook.

This firstissueofwhatisplannedasabiennialseriesofreportswascommissionedbyUNEPin responsetotheenvironmentalreportingrequirementsofAgenda21andtoaUNEPGoverningCouncilDecisionofMay 1995requestingthepreparationofthefirstofanewcomprehensiveStateoftheEnvironment Report seriesintime fortheUNEPGoverningCouncilMeetingofJanuary1997.It isthereforeintendedasasnapshotofanongoingworldenvironmentalassessmentprocess.

TheGlobalEnvironmentOutlook(GEO)Projectinvolvescollaboratingcentres.workinggroups,scientific andpolicyconsultations andUnitedNationsparticipation. This firstvolumeGEO-1 is essentiallyareviewofglobalenvironmentissuesfrom regionalperspectives. Thebulkofthetextconsistsof achapterdevotedtoregional perspectives,anothertopolicyresponses anddirectionsandafinalchapterentitled'Lookingtothefuture'.Amongstthemajorissues dealtwithareland,forests,biodiversity andmarineandcoastal environments. The regionalperspectives forAfrica,EuropeandWest Asiaaretheonesthat areofmostinteresttoMEDUSAreaders. Thebook containssome usefultables,mapsandstatisticsillustratingvariousfactorsortrendssuchassoildegradation, protectedareas,threatenedcoastal ecosystems,loss ofcropland, andaprojectedchangesinthegeographical distribution of'domesticated'and'non-domesticatedland'. Thereisanextended executivesummary.

Theoverallconclusionthat isdrawnwillcauselittlesurprise:'Significantprogresshas beenmadeinconfrontingenvironmental challenges.

Nevertheless, theenvironmenthas

continued todegradeinnationsofallregions.Progress towardsasustainablefuturehassimply beentooslow.’

GEO1isalsoavailableontheInternet.Kenya:http:/www.unep.org/unep/eia/geo1/,USA: http://grid2.cr.usgs.gov/geo1/

ThisisanoutlineaccountofthevegetationandplantlifeofJordan,withspecialreferenceto theeffectsofhumanactionand theneedforconservation. Afteroutlinesofthegeologyandphysicalcharacteristicsofthe country,thereisachapteronthebiogeographicalregionsandthen areviewofthevegetation types.Th i s i sfollowedbyachapteronspecialvegetationareasofJordansuchastheWadi Araba,theDanaReserveandtheAzraqBasin.

Furtherchaptersdealwithhumaninfluences onthenaturalplantcover,andbiodiversitywithspecialreferencetothecausesofbiodiversitylossinJordanand theimportanceofplantsasgeneticresourcessuchasfoodplants,wildrelativesofcrops, ornamentals,andmedicinals.Thebookconcludeswithachapteronconservationandmakesasetofrecommendationsforactiontoconserve andsustainablyusetheplantresourcesofthecountry.

Thebookiswellillustratedwithdiagramsandnumerouscolourplates.Thereisanextensivebibliographyandan index. Thisisausefulcompilationandwillbeavaluablesourceofreference.

DawudAl-Eisawi,. UNESCO Cairo Office,

Cairo.1996.pp.284. No priceindicated.

O. Delanoe, B. deMontmollin & L .Olivier andthe IUCN/SSCMediterraneanIslands Plant

Vegetation ofJordan

V.Heywood

V.Heywood

Specialist Group.

IUCN,Gland,SwitzerlandandCambridge,UK.1996. AvailablefroIUCNPublicationsUnit,219Huntingdon Road,CambridgeCB2ODL, UK. ISBN:2-8317-0351-4.

Conservation ofMediterranean IslandPlants. 1. Strategyforaction.

Astheexecutivesummarynotes,theMediterranean Basinwithnearly500islands andisletsincludesoneofthelargest islandgroupsoftheworld,manyofthemrichinplantdiversity.Butislandhabitatsareespeciallyvulnerabletomodificationthroughhuman activities,notablyasa resultoftourisminrecentyearsandthishasputmany speciesandpopulations atrisk.Unfortunatelyourknowledgeofthedistributionand statusofspeciesisincomplete,andlittleinformationisknown abouttheirdemography,reproductivebiologyandhabitatpreferences. It isdifficultinsuchcircumstances to make planeffectiveconservationaction. Tocombatthis,theMediterraneanIslandPlantSpecialistGrouphasprepared astrategy foractionforislandplantsandtheirhabitatsthatitishopedwillprovide oneof thebasiccomponentso fanoverallbiodiversity conservationprogrammecoveringtheentireMediterranean Basin.

ThetextprovidesausefulsurveyoftheMediterranean floraanditsislandsandreviews tourcurrentstateofknowledge,identifying gapsandresearch needs. Asummaryis givenofthecurrentsituationon themajorislandsbasedonpresentations madeatthe1993Ajacciosymposium on'Knowledgeandconservation oftheMediterranean islandflora',theproceedingsof whichwerepublishedinEcologiaMediterraneavol.21in1995.Achaptercovers conservationlegislationandothermeasures andl is tsthemainprotectedareasintheMediterranean islands. Finally anAction Planisoutl ined.

Altogetherthis isavaluableandwell-presenteddocument. Letushopethatthestrategyfor action outlined canbeimplementedsoon.

V.H.Heywood

23

B o o k R e v i e w sMEDUSA Newsletter

Rejdali,M.&Birouk,A.(Eds).

Actes Editions,Rabat. 1996. pp.256.ISBN:9981-801-26-7. Nopriceindicated.

A.Birouk&M.Rejdali(eds).

Actes Editions,Rabat. 1997. pp. 372.ISBN:9981-801-30-5. No priceindicated.

Diversite B iologique et Valorisationd e sPlantes Medicinales.

Ressources Phytogenetiques e tDeveloppementDurable.

Thisvolumerepresentstheproceedingsofa'RencontrefrancophonedeCooperation etdePartenariat'heldattheInstitutAgonomique etVeterinaireHassanII,Rabat,MoroccoinSeptember1995. Whilemostofthepapersareconcerned withvariousaspectsofmedicinal plants intropicalAfrica, several deal with NorthAfricancountries.TheseincludeareviewbyRejdali of thefloraofMoroccoand itsconservation, anevaluation ofthemedicinal andaromaticplantsofMoroccoby Ismaili-Alaoui andapaperbyChemlion thevaluingofplantresourcesusedintraditionalmedicine.Itendswith a synthesisofthemeetingsand a setofrecommendationsthatwillbeofinterest tothoseconcernedwithmedicinal andaromaticplantsintheMediterranean. The bookiswellproducedandausefuladdit iontotheliteratureinthisfield.

ThisvolumecontainstheproceedingsofaNational Seminarorganizedby theComiteNationaldes RessourcesPhytogenetiquesofMoroccoonplant geneticresourcesandsustainabledevelopment.Itbeginswithaseriesofscene-settingpaperson:biodiversityandsustainabledevelopment ( Heywood),economicaspectsofbiodiversityconservation(Heywood), theFAO networkofplantgeneticresources(Ringlund),biotechnologytransferundertheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(Krattiger),Botanic gardens andbotanical conservatories(Olivier),theactivitiesofCIHEAMregarding

V.H.Heywood

teachingandresearchinplantgeneticresources(Navarro)and domesticgeneticheritageandtraditionalknowledge(Crossa-Raynaud).Mostofthe maintextofthebookdealswithvariousaspectsofplantgeneticresourcesinMorocco cereals, forestry,pasturespecies, foddershrubs,foodlegumes,datepalm,olive,diseaseresistance, sorghum, ecosystematicapproachestoconservationandnational strategies.InadditiontherearesinglepapersoneachofAlgeria,Senegaland Tunisiaand summariesofposterspresented atthemeeting.Itconcludeswithaseriesofrecommendations.Thisbookcontainsamassofinformationandwillbeaninvaluablereferencesourceforanyoneinterested inplantgenetic resourcesofNorthAfrica, arid zonesandtheMediterraneanregion.

Thebookcontainsthree differentsections.Thefirst isasubregionalsynthesisonthestatusofplantgeneticresourcesinSouthWestAsia(Afghanistan,Bahrain,Iran,Iraq,Kuwait, Oman,Pakistan, Qatar,SaudiArabia, Turkey,UnitedArabEmirates,andYemen)(33pages).ItcomprisesanassessmentofPlantGeneticResourcesprogrammesandactivitiesintheSubregion anddealswith theneeds,opportunitiesand constraintsfacingtheconservationofPGR.Thesecondsectionisasubregional synthesisonthe statusofPGRinEast andSouthMediterraneanSubregion (Mauritania,Morocco, Algeria,Tunisia,Libya,Egypt, JordanPalestine, Lebanon,Syria, Cyprus, andTurkey)(32pages).

IPGRI/FAO.

IPGRI/FAORome.1996IPGRI/FAO(1996)InternationalTechnicalConferenceonplantgeneticresources:Preparatory process forWest AsiaandNorthAfrica.PublishedbyIPGRI/FAORome.ISBN92-9043-286-1

InternationalTechnicalConferenceonPlantGeneticResources:Preparatoryprocess forWestAsiaandNorthAfrica.

V.H.Heywood

ThethirdsectiondealswithasynthesisonthestatusofPGRin CentralAsiacountries(Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,TurkmenistanandUzbekistan)(7 pages). Thebookcoversalsothe subregionalpreparatorymeetingheldinTehran,Iran9-12October1995,aswellasthesubregional preparatorymeetingheldinTunis,Tunisia16-19 October1995withall therecommendations thatcameoutofthesemeetingsforthepreparationof theGlobalPlan ofAction fortheConservationofPlantGenetic Resourcesfor FoodandAgriculturethatwasdiscussed attheInternationalTechnical Conferencewhichwasheld inLeipzig,GermanyonJune17-23 1995.

Thisbookletis oneof theresultsoftheIPGRI/WANA Group's efforts tostudyandconservefruitand nutplantgeneticresourcesincooperationwith theArabCentre forthestudyofAridZonesandDryLandsACSAD.Thebookletisbased o n an extensive fieldsurveyofthestandsoffivewild almond species,

and.Foreach species,

informationis givenaboutitsgeographicaldistribution,ecologyandhabitat. Therealsoaspecialsectiononthepropagationofthesespecies.

Thebookletcoversdiagnosticcharactersand demonstratesthat

hasseveralmorphologicalandecological typesbuttheauthorsrefrain fromgivingthemataxonomicrank.It shows alsothatisvariable.Emberger's bioclimaticindexwasused todemonstrate theamplitudeofecologicaltoleranceofeach species.Specialattention isg iven

Shalabi,M.N.,Rayes,R.,Ghazal,A.andAswad, N. G.

IPGRIandACSAD.1997.(inArabic).75pp. 3 6 c olouredplatesand18drawings.ISBN92-9043-316-7.AvailablefromIPGRI/WANA.

Preliminaryecologicaland phytogeographicstudyof wildAmygdalus germplasm i n Syria.

A.orientalis,A.spartioides,A.korschinski,A.arabica,A.communis

A.orientalis

A.korschinski

Y.Barkoudah

24

B o o k R e v i e w sJune1997

tothelocaluseoftheseplantsaslivefencesandas food.Itisinteresting toread initthatsomeformsof

haveediblepits.

Althoughthe studyisbased onalargenumberofsamples, theauthorsdid notseethetype specimens,nor didtheytrytoelaborateonthedifferencebetween

andis left in theshadowof

dought.Indeeditis notclearwhethertheauthorsrecogniseitornot.

Thisbookcontains17papersby23Jordanianresearchersworkinginagriculturalresearch,theuniversities,IPGRIorICARDA. Itisdividedintofivesections:Afteranoverviewofbiodiversity i n Jordan, thegeneticresourcesof m ajorcropsin Jordan arepresentedindifferentpaperscoveringplant genetic resourcesofcereals,foodlegumes, foragelegumes,rangeplants,medicinal plants,fruittrees andforestry.Conservationandutilisationofplantgeneticresources,biotechnologyarealsotreatedinthethird section.Thefourthsectiondealswith co-operationbetweenagriculturalresearchinJordan,ICARDAandIPGRI.Amajoroutcomeofthisworkshopwastheformation ofanationalcommitteeontheplantgeneticresourcesJordan.Therecommendationsmakethe fifthsectionofthebook. Theyarethebasisforanationalstrategyandplanofaction forthe conservationofplantgeneticresourcesin Jordan.

A.orientalis

A.spartioidesA.agrostis

Jaradat,A.A.(ed) .

( 2-4August1994Amman, Jordan). IPGRI/WANAGroup,Aleppo,Syria.1996.272 pp.ISBN92-9043-301-9

Plant GeneticResourcesof Jordan.Proceedingsof aNational Seminar

A.arabica.

Y.Barkoudah

Y. Barkoudah

Barkoudah, Y.Adham, Y. andM.AbiAntoun (eds).

(29April 1995Tell Amara, Lebanon)(inArabic).PublishedbyIPGRI/WANAGroup,Aleppo,Syria.1996.6pp.ISBN92-9043-287-x

Jaradat,A . ( ed).

IPGRI/WANA Group,Aleppo,Syria.1997.212 pages(inArabic).ISBN92-9043-312-4

Proceedingsof the FirstNational Workshop o n plantgeneticresources inLebanon

The first workshop onplantgeneticresourcesinYemen.

Thisbookincludes11paperspresentedintheworkshop.Itisdividedintothreesections:sectiononedealswithconservationand evaluationofplantgeneticresourcesandtheroleofNGOsandtheChurchinbiodiversityconservation.Thesecondsection dealswithplant diversity oftheflora, wildrel ativesandforestsofLebanon.Thethirdsectiondealswithplantgeneticresourcesoffoodlegumes,cereals,rangeand forageplants.Thebookendswithrecommendationsfortheconservationofplantgeneticresources.TheoutcomeofthisworkshopwasthenominationofaNational CommitteefortheConservationofPlantGeneticResources.

Thedatainthisbookcanbeconsideredasastartingpoint forthesurvey,documentationandconservationofplantgeneticresources.Ithighlightsthe constrainsanddifficultiesthatconservationfacesinLebanon.

Thebookincludesthepaperspresentedduringtheworkshopheld i n Taazonthe12-14December1993.There are14paperspreparedby23researchers

Y.Barkoudah

25

B o o k R e v i e w sworking intheAgriculturalResearchortheUniversitiesofYemen.Thebookcontainsbasic informationon theagricultural resources andclimateinYemen. Itgives details ofthedifferentplantgeneticresourcesinthecountrysofarknown.AbriefhistoryofPGRcollectinginYemenandtheinstitutionalframeworkforPGRarepresented.Cereals, foodandforagelegumes,legumes,datepalmandfruittrees,coffeeandrange plants geneticresourcesaretreated.TheworkshopwasastartingpointfortheestablishmentofaNationalCommitteeonplantgeneticresources.

Y.Barkoudah

MEDUSA Newsletter

1 9 9 7

September

October

November

28th International SymposiumonEssentialOils

IIInternationalCongress.Ethnobotany97.Ethnobotanyas abasis forsustainablemanagement.

EleventhWorldForestryCongress:Forestryfor SustainableDevelopment Towardsthe 21stCentury.

New DirectionsinSystematics.TheFifth andFinalWorkshop oftheEuropeanScienceFoundationNetworkin SystematicBiology

2ndWorldCongressonMedicinalandAromaticPlantsfor HumanWelfare(WOCMAPII)

(ISEO). Eskiehir,Turkey.1-3September1997.

Prof.K.H.C.Baer, AnadoluUniversity,MedicinalandAromaticPlant andDrugResearchCentre(TBAM), 26470Eskiehir,Turkey.Fax:902223350127.Email:tbam@vm.baum.anadolu.edu.tr

October12-17,1997,Merida,Yucatan(Mexico).

Jose S alvadorFloresGuido,ExecutivePresident oftheCongressOrganizingCommitee.P.O. Box4-116,Itzimna,Merida,Yucatan,Mexico.Fax: 99234009

Antalya,Turkey. 13-22October

Luis Botero, FAO, ForestryDepartment, ViadelleTermedeCaracalla, 00100Rome,Italy.Fax: +39652255137

.Hersonisos,Crete,15-18 October1997.

MsNicolaDonlon, ESFNetworkinSystematicBiology,TheNatural HistoryMuseum,LondonSW75BD, UK.Fax:+171 9389506.Email:n.donlon@nhm.ac.uk

.November10-15, 1997, Mendoza(Argentina).

Dr.A.L.Bandoni,SociedadArgentinaparalaInvestigaciondeProductosAromaticos Libertad1079,2Piso.1012 BuenosAires(Argentina).Fax: 5419617637

Contact:

Contact:

Contact:

Contact:

Contact:

3rdInternationalSymposium onOliveGrowing

InternationalConferenceonMedicinalPlants.Conservation,Utlization,TradeandBiocultures

InternationalWorkshop onMedicinalandAromaticPlants intheMediterranean:Localknowledge,insituconservation andmarkets.

. Chania, Crete,Greece,22-26September 1997.

DrIoanniMetzidakis,Subtropical PlantsandOliveTreeInstitute,73100,Chania,Greece.Fax:+3082193963.

.Bangalore, India.,1620February 1998.

FoundationforRevitalisationof Local HealthTraditions(FRLHT),No50,2ndStage,MSHLayout,Anandnagar, Bangalore- 560024.Fax:+91803334167.Email:root@frlht.ernet.in

Coimbra, Portugal, 20-22March1998,followedbyStudyTours,22-27March1998.OrganizedbyTRIBO(PortugueseResourceCentreforIndigenousKnowledge),BIOSEMEN(PortugueseAssociationforGeneticResources)andAGROBIO(PortuguseAssociationofOrganicAgriculture).

TRIBO, Apartado1022,2780PacodeArcos,Portugal.Fax:35114420095 .Email:tribo@mail.telepac.pt

Contact:

Contact:

Contact:

1 9 9 8

February

March

26

F o r th c o m i n g e v e n t sJune1997

A l g e r i a

E g y p t

Seminairenationalsurlabiodiversite phytogenetique(prospection,evaluation,conservation), 11-13 Mai1996,Constantine (Algerie).

1erColloqueNationalsurlesplantesmedicinales, 20-21Mars1996, Ghardaia (Algerie).

Lesthemesabordes ontportesurl'evaluation, lavalorisation etl'ameliorationgenetiquedespopulationssauvagesetcultiveesd'intereteconomique.

Dr.N.Kharfallah,UFR degenetiqueet ameliorationdesplantes,InstitutdesSciencesdelaNature,Universitede Constantine,Routed'AinEl Bey,25000Constantine, Algerie.

Lamanifestationaportesurlesplantesmedicinales algeriennes,les plantesmellifereset lemiel ,ainsiquesurlecontroledequalitedesmedicaments.ElleaeteorganiseeparlaFOREM.

Aworkshop o n

'wasorganizedon 9-12 D ecember1996bytheNationalOrganization forDrugControlandResearch(Cairo, Egypt)incollaboration withWHO. Lectureswere givenonqualitycontrolofherbalremedies;algae;analysisofresidualinsecticides, andpesticides inplantextracts; phytomedicinemarkets,statistics,trendsand analyses;andtheuseof thewildfloraofEgypt asaphytotherapy indermatologyandcosmetics.

Theorganized

bytheEgyptianPharmaceuticalSociety,washeld in Cairo24-26December1996. About100 scientificpaperswere given,including22in thefield ofpharmacognosyand medicinalplants.Eight symposiawere held,includingoneon'HerbalMedicine,EconomyandUtilization';themoderatorwasProfessorMohammedYounisHaggag,oneoftheMEDUSA

Contacter:

'Standardization o fherbalextractsand ensuringthesafety,efficacyandquality controlofherbalremedies

25thConferenceofPharmaceuticalSciences,

Focal PointCoordinators.

10-14May1997Aleppo, Syria.Thisinternational symposiumofplantbiologistsandarchaeologistswasorganised bythe InternationalCentreforAgriculturalResearchintheDryAreas(ICARDA), GeneticResourcesConservationProgramUniversityofCalifornia,InstitutdePrehistoireOrientaleCNRS, International PlantGeneticResourcesInstitute(IPGRI),DepartmentofAntiquities,Syria,InstitutFrancaisd'ArcheologieauProcheOrient (IFAPO).Atotalof30paperswerepresenteddealingwithdomestication,environmental changes,spreadofagriculture, geneticrelationsandevolution, geneticdiversity,archaeological findings.TheProceedingsarein pressandwillbedistributed byICARDA, P. O.Box5466,Aleppo,Syria.

Avril 1997,Mostaganem (Algerie).OrganiseparlaFOREM(FondationNationalepourlaPromotiondelaSanteetleDeveloppementdelaRecherche Medicale).

Pr. M. Khiati , CentreCultureldeHusseinDey, HusseindeyAlger.

Contacter:

S y r i a

A l g e r i a

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

TheoriginsofAgricultureandDomestication of C ropPlantsintheNearEast,HarlanSymposium,

2emeColloqueNationalsurlesPlantes Medicinales.

IstInternationalConferenceonAnthropology andHistoryofHealth andDiseasesand the3rdEuropeanColloquium onEthnopharmacology(1ereConferenceInternationaled'Anthropologie et d'Histoire de laSanteetdesMaladies et3e

meColloqueEuropeend'Ethnopharmacologie).

CongresInternationalECODEV96

29May-2June1996, Genoa(Italy).Aworkshopwasorganizedonpoisonousand medicinalplantsoftheMediterranean Basin.

Pr.A. G uerci,Dipartimento diScienzeAntropologiche,Universitadegli StudidiGenova, ViaBalbi,4-16126Genova (Italia).

12-16Novembre1996,Adrar(Algerie).

Cettemanifestationscientifiqueaportesurl'evaluationdesmethodesd'approchedel'ecodeveloppementdeszonesarideset semi-arides.

K. Mederbal,UniversiteDjillali LIABES,Sidi-BelAbbes,Algerie.

AnInternationalExpertMeetingon

washeldfrom19-21MayattheMinistryofAgriculturein Cairo,Egypt.MEDUSAwas representedby thechairoftheSteering Group, ProfessorVernon Heywood,who wasinvitedtoparticipateasa resourcepersonandpresent a plenarylectureon'Plantresourcesandtheirdiversityin theMiddle East'.

Theaim ofthe m eeting wastoobtain abetterinsightintothepresent resourcesituationandutilizationofmedicinal,culinary andaromatic plantsoftheNear Eastregionfrom wildsources,theirpotentialandtheproblemsandissuestobeaddressee fortheirsustainableuse anddevelopment. Itwasattendedby20expertsfromCyprus,Egypt, Iran,Jordan,Sudan,Syria,TunisiaandTurkeyaswellasrepresentativesofFAOandMEDUSA.Themeetingfoundthattherewasaserious l ackofinformationaboutthespecies concerned, theirproperties,formsofutilization,harvesting,productionand tradestatistics and theirsocio-economicimportance. I t wasrecommended thataregionaldatabaseonmedicinal,aromatic andothernon-wood forestproductsoftheNearEastbeestablished, includingthecreationofaDirectoryofexpertiseand

Contact:

Contacter:

Medicinal,CulinaryandAromaticPlants intheNearEast

27

R e p o r t s o f m e e t i n g sMEDUSA Newsletter

activities,andthatnetworkingamongstthekeyinstitutionsbeimprovedtostrengtheninformationexchange,technologytransfer, developmentofregionalstatistics,regional trainingprogrammes.Itwas alsoconcludedthattherewasalackofacoherentpolicyconservation fortheconservation and sustainableuseofthese resourcesand recommendedaction betakentoreviewcurrentnationalforestlegislationto identifycritical gaps, provideassistancetogovernments forthe developmentofcomprehensivestrategiesfortheconservation and sustainableuseofmedicinal, cul inary andaromaticplantresourcesandtosetasidegenereserves/conservationcentresandstudythefeasibilityofestablishingregionalgenebanksonMAPintheNearEast.Institutional aspects ifproductdevelopment andpolicywerealsoreviewedand itrecommendedactiononthepreparationofmarketingstudiesonimportant plants andtheorganization oftrainingworkshops o nspecifictopicssuch asquality,marketingcontrol,involvementoflocal people.

Dr Paul Vantomme,WoodandNon-WoodProductsUtilizationBranchForestProductsDivision,FAO,Vialedelle Terme di Caracalla00100Rome,ItalyFax: 39-6-52255137Email:Paul.Vantomme@fao.org

Contact:

Articles andothermaterialforthenextissueoftheMEDUSANewslettershouldbesubmittedbyemailorondisketteinWord6totheEditor

31October1997nolaterthan

PublishedfortheMEDUSASecretariatbythe

EDITERRANEAN GRONOMIC

NSTITUTEAT HANIA

OX

HANIA REECE

AX

MAIL

M AI CPO B 8573100C , GF :(+30)82181154E- : melpo@zorbas.maich.gr

EditorR O F ERNON EYWOODC H O O L O F LANT CIENCESH E NIVERSITY O F EADING

HITEKNIGHTS OXEADINGEL

AXMAIL

P . V H.HS P ST U RW , PO B 221R RG66AS,UKT :(+44)1189318160/1189780185F :(+44)1189891745E- : v.h.heywood@reading.ac.uk

Published with support from the Foodand Agriculture Organization of theUnitedNations(FAO)

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Decreen°8501ofthe5thofJanuary1985bearingtheratificationoftheprotocol relatif tothespeciallyprotectedareas ofthemediterraneansignedonthe4thofMarch1982inGneva.

Lawn°83ofthe2ndofMay1983relativetotheprotectionoftheenvironmentofwhich23articlesaredevotedtotheprotectionofthefaunaandflora.

Lawn°84of23rdofJune1984ontheprotection,exploitationandadministrationofforests,nationalparksandnaturalreserves.Inspiteoftheexistenceof a national l egalframeworkthat allowstheprotectionoftheplantheritagetobecarryoutefficiently, p lantsarestillexploitedbypeopleinanuncontrolledway.Urbanisation, industrialisation andtourismcontinuetoinvadethehabitats aswell.

continued frompage17 continuedfrom page 6VegetationmarineetaquatiqueenTunisie

L'inventairedelavegetationmarine etaquatiquerealiseenTunisiementionnelapresencede4141 especesdont9phanerogamesaquatiqueset405alguesdontdeuxd'eaudouce.