The unique Nordic landraces

The international day for biodiversity is on 22 May every year. This year the theme of the day is biodiversity and agriculture. To celebrate the day the Nordic nature project has published a fact sheet on Nordic landraces.

Landraces of domestic animals and crops disappear rapidly. They should be conserved for their genetic diversity, among other things, which is a valuable resource for animal and crop breeding. Read more about the landraces in the fact sheet.

The unique Nordic landraces (pdf, 712 kb) Published 22 May 2008.

The fact sheet may be printed and distributed freely. When using the information copyright must be respected. Please refer to the fact sheet as: Nordic nature – trends towards 2010. Nordic Council of ministers. 2008. Fact sheet: The unique Nordic livestock breeds and crop varieties. 22 May 2008 (pdf). www.environment.fi/nordicnature > Fact sheets > Nordic landraces.

References:

- The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. 2007. Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

- Ilkka Heikkinen (Ed.). 2007. Saving nature for people. National strategy and action plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Finland 2006–2016. Ministry of the Environment, Helsinki.

- Hallanaro, Eeva-Liisa, Pylvänäinen Marja & From Stella. 2002. Nature in Northern Europe – Biodiversity in a changing environment. Nord 2001:13. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen.

- Tiainen, J., Kuussaari, M., Laurila, I.P. Toivonen, T. (Ed.). 2004. Elämää pellossa – Suomen maatalousympäristön monimuotoisuus. [Life in the fields – the biodiversity of Finland’s farmland habitats.] Edita Publishing Oy, Helsinki (in Finnish).

- Lappalainen Iiris (Ed.) 1998. Suomen luonnon monimuotoisuus. [Biodiversity in Finland] . Oy Edita Ab, Helsinki. (in Finnish)

- Annikki Lappalainen and Liisa Jääskeläinen: Maintaining landrace plants is a cultural action (article in Finnish http://www.edu.fi/oppimateriaalit/kasvikulttuuri/artikkelit/14_maatiaiskasvit.htm  14.4.2008)

- Suomen kansallinen kasvigeenivaraohjelma. 2007. Suomalaiset maatiaiskasvit -esite. Forssan kirjapaino [Finnish national action plan for plant genetic resources. 2007. Brochure on Finnish landrace plants. Only available in Finnish.]