Agricultural experts yesterday underlined preservation of plant genetic resources through biodiversity and massive afforestation programme to ensure a sound environment, reports UNB.

Fortyfive species and some 500 medicinal plants of the country are now facing extinction as about 8.000 hectares of forests have been depleted annually during the last two decades disturbing ecological balance, said plant genetic resource expert Dr M Gul Hossain at a policy meeting on the Convention of Biological Diver sity at the BARC.

Statistics show a current forest area of 12.8 per cent. But the actual forest area is estimated between 5 and 6 per cent only against the minimum requirement of 25 per cent. Dr Hossain said.

Forest types of the country, he said, are as follows: Mangrove forest 0.67 million hectares, hill forest 0.67 million hectares, unclassified state forest 0.73 million hectares and village groves 0.27 million hectares.

Dr Hossain cited homestead establishment, urbanisation and deforestation as the main causes of forest depletion. "Poachers damage forest genetic resources more than natural causes like tidal surges, cyclone, drought, fire, pests etc."

Drives for Increased food-graln (cereal) production have threatened not only non-cereal crops but also minor cereals. This has contributed to genetic erosion of land races, imbalances In cropping pat terns and soil sickening in many areas. Dr Hossain said

Representative of International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1PGR). Rome. Dr Mu ri hl Anishetty. agri-scientist and emeritus Dr Kazi M Badruddoza also spoke at the

meeting attended by some 50 agrl-experta. Executive Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr MSG Chowdhury chaired the meeting, organised jointly by the FAO 1PGR1 and BARC

They stressed establishment of a national centre for plant genetic resources with appropriate infrastructure for conservation of orthodox and recalcitrant seeds, vegetatively propagated materials, includ ing facilities for a cryo bank and a DNA bank.

Integration of national plant genetic resources (PGR) net work Including field genebanks should be strengthened. Development of PGR documentation and data management systems Is needed to facilitate local and regional use of PGR information, they said.

National variety Improvement programmes and an integration of such programmes with PGR activities are needed, they said, adding evaluation of germplasm can be enhanced by encouraging bilateral and regional collaborative programmes.