THE FRENCH STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PLANT GENETIC-RESOURCES

This paper presents the guidelines of the French Strategy for the mana gement of plant genetic resources, including tropical and forest speci es. It emphasizes the need to link both process of conservation and va lorization of genetic resources, but also to rationalize the choice of resources to be maintained and to allow progressive evaluation of col lections. The paper describes the organization of conservation and eva luation of genetic resources in France, through networks of partners. It presents the genetic material currently considered within French na tional collections and gives the addresses of the different co-ordinat ors of these collections. It also emphasizes the need for methods to r educe the gap between old genetic resources and elite varieties. All p revious activities contribute directly to the implementation of the FA O Global Plan of Action for the conservation and sustainable utilizati on of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, at national, r egional and international levels.