Mesoamerica’s Crop Wild Relatives: A new approach for conservation planning

Conservation of Crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic diversity has become a global food security issue, and several countries are actively developing conservation strategies including the generation of a national checklist and inventory of CWR, the assessment of current threat status, the identification of knowledge and conservation, and the establishment of genetic reserves. In this context, Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador, in collaboration with experts abroad (University of Birmingham, UK, and IUCN), worked together in a project to contribute towards safeguarding Mesoamerican CWR. The results of this work represent a first national and regional guide to promote CWR in situ conservation and sustainable management that contributes towards achievement of the CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Targets.