Conservation Field Guide to Medics

Nawaf Al Atawneh, Ali Shehadeh, Ahmed Amri, Nigel Maxted. (31/12/2009). Conservation Field Guide to Medics. Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

Abstract

Agrobiodiversity in West Asia and North Africa region particularly in the Mediterranean and the Fertile Crescent Centres of diversity have a global significance. Medicago species, with their center of diversity in the region, are a good example of shared benefits from the expansion and exchange of genetic resources throughout the World. Alfalfa (M. sativa L.) is the most widely grown forage species in temperate countries and with other Medicago species constitute the basis for ley farming systems around the world. The genetic resources collected from the Middle East region and the genetic variability still existing in situ are invaluable germplasm resources for regional and global breeding programs. The potential uses of Medicago in soil improvement, bioremediation, cover crops, food and medicines and production of enzymes also offer additional benefits that underline the the necessity to conserve in situ and ex-situ and sustainably use the Medicago species richness and its intra-species diversity. However, the conservation of any group of species is often limited by conservationists' own ability to identify the target species in the field, as such this Conservation Field Guide aims to provide a comprehensive means for non-experts to identify Medicago in the West Asia region and provide the necessary baseline to facilitate their conservation by national programs in the CWANA region and other regions. This Conservation Field Guide is an important output of the GEF funded-ICARDA coordinated West Asia dryland Agrobiodiversity Project and is aimed to help field conservationists, agriculturalists, extension agents, students, and teachers identify Medicago species in a novel, and contemporary manner.