Biodiversity
The World Conservation Union () recognizes three levels of biological diversity: the diversity of ecosystems and species, and the genetic diversity within species. This website is about the later.
Species - plants, animals, micro-organisms - are the building blocks of biodiversity. Genetic variability (variation) within species is necessary to adapt to new circumstances.
Loss
Biodiversity loss is one of the world's most pressing crises. It threatens the very basis of more sustainable development and the quality of life. Reasons for preservation of biodiversity or animal genetic diversity are both historical (conservation of our natural heritage) and economical (food security, recycle-capacity etc.). At this moment, genetic diversity in animals and plants, in domestic populations and in the wild, is lost at an increasing rate.
Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR)
To enable (long term) food security, preservation of animal genetic resources are crucial. Animal genetic rescources can be described as genetic diversity, either characterized or as yet uncharacterized, that is found in economically important animals. This does not indicate that these species are necessarily domesticated. In the Netherlands,
is monitoring and conserving the Dutch animal genetic resources.