Conserving Plant Genetic Diversity in Protected Areas

Author Biography

José María Iriondo Alegría is a full professor of the Biodiversity and Conservation Area of Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) in Madrid (Spain). He holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering specialized in plant sciences, a specialist degree in Plant Genetic Resources and a PhD from the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Program of the Technical University of Madrid (UPM). His research and training are specialized in in situ conservation of crop wild relatives (CWR) and wild food plants (WFP), threatened plants, and alpine plants affected by climate change. In 1999, he joined the working group on Crop Wild Relative Conservation of ECPGR (European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources) and have since worked on CWR in Europe developing criteria, methodologies and standards for the conservation and management of these PGR, through active participation in four European research projects (PGR Forum, AEGRO, PGR Secure y Farmer's Pride). Presently, he is vice-chair of the CWR working group of ECPGR and a member of the Advisory Committee of EURISCO, the European database of plant genetic resources. His research is specialized in in situ plant conservation with a focus on population dynamics, reproductive biology, population genetics, biotic interactions and local adaptations in the context of climate change. Professor and Consultant in Plant Genetic Conservation. Research Interests: Plant conservation and broader biodiversity conservation and use, with specific expertise in: field conservation, taxonomy, ecogeography, GIS, population sampling, population management, reserve management, on-farm conservation, gene flow and genetic diversity studies of various plant groups. Work experience throughout Africa, the Middle East, Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe. Dr Dulloo is a Team Leader for a Bioversity International Initiative on Effective Genetic Resources Conservation and Use. Dr Dulloo is also co-Leader of the Genetic Diversity Cluster in the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas, as well as co-Chair of the Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group. He has been a Senior Policy Officer at the FAO. He was the lead author of the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report and, more recently, lead author of Chapter 2.2 Status and Trends - Nature in the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report. He won the World Bank 2009 Development Marketplace Award on Climate Adaptation. Dr Dulloo has published widely on biodiversity and the conservation of genetic resources.