As an agroforestry system practiced by farmers in Guatemala, home gardens play an important role in the ecological, social and economic dimensions of rural communities. Its importance as a system is based on the complex interactions it supports overtime and which contribute to the sustainability of the system's production. The sustainability of this agroforestry system is also important for the conservation of plant genetic resources in home gardens. However, the crucial conservation role of homegardens has not been taken into account. For this reason, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GTZ) has been carrying out a global project on the "Contribution ofhome gardens to in situ conservation of plant genetic resources in farming systems." This project has a span of three years (1999 to 2001) and five countries are involved (Ghana, Cuba, Vietnam, Venezuela, and Guatemala). In Guatemala, the study was conducted by the Research Institute of the Agronomy School, San Carlos University. The study areas were in two regions of contrasting weather and culture: the Alta Verapaz province in the north and the semiarid region in the eastern part of the country. At these two sites, 118 home gardens were characterized in which 500 plant species were identified. An important group of the useful species in home gardens also grew wild in nearby forests, and some of these species had been moved into gardens when they became threatened in their native habitat. Key species were selected and studied in-depth through molecular characterization techniques. Additionally, studies on the role that home gardens play in the household economy were pursued. This report presents themost important results obtained during the three-year period of research. It contributes to the basic body of knowledge needed as a first step towards developing a global plan for the use and conservation of plant genetic resources in home gardens.
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