Dear reader,
The 54th volume of our journal includes 20 papers describing different aspects of animal genetic resources and their management in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The current volume shows that our journal is truly international due to its international readership and authorship. Furthermore the papers presented cover a range of topics from characterization of breeds to the description of their production systems. Similar to the 53rd issue, the high percentage of papers dealing with phenotypic and or genetic characterisation indicates the continuing importance of the first strategic priority area of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources Footnote 1 .
Animal genetic resources represent an important part of biodiversity. Therefore I would also like to draw your attention to the next edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological DiversityFootnote 2 . It is a periodic report that summarizes the latest data on the status and trends of biodiversity and draws conclusions relevant to the further implementation of the Convention. The reports are based on different types on information including national reports, scientific literature, information from the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership and supplementary studies. The fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-4)Footnote 3 will be prepared to provide a midterm assessment towards the progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.Footnote 4 You might me be especially interested in Aichi Target 13 which refers directly to the genetic diversity of farmed and domesticated animals.
The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, at its Fourteenth Regular Session in April 2013, requested FAO to prepare The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as an update to the first report published in 2007.Footnote 5 By 25th of March 2014, 100 countries had submitted country reports to FAO and another 30 countries had indicated that they were in the final stages of preparing their reports. International organizations and regional focal points for the management of animal genetic resourcesFootnote 6 have also been invited to report on their activities supporting the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources.Footnote 7
The Second Report will be made available to the Eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which is scheduled to take place 26–28 November 2014 in Rome.Footnote 8 The Working Group will also advise the Commission on whether the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources needs to be updated. Please encourage your country's National CoordinatorFootnote 9 to attend this important meeting. You might also consider providing him/her with your comments on the Second Report, which will be published online six weeks prior to the meeting at our webpageFootnote 10 .
Yours sincerely,
Roswitha Baumung
