SAVE Foundation is a pan-European umbrella organisation with the purpose of networking organisations that strive to halt and reverse the trend of genetic erosion of agrobiodiversity, the biodiversity in agriculture.
Generations of breeding have given rise to a multiplicity of domesticated animals and plants that are optimally adapted to their specific environment. Today, this genetic, cultural, and historical heritage is increasingly threatened through commercial agriculture and consumption habits.
Agrobiodiversity is not only an essential part of biodiversity, but also an essential instrument for rural development in marginal areas, especially in areas of special environmental value like traditional Agro Eco Systems (TAES). In those areas, conservation of Agro-Biodiversity is an option for the local people to improve their income and for sustainable landscape management.
Local breeds and varieties are well adapted to their environment and need little or no nutrition supplements. Hence their ecological footprint is generally better than in the modern high-yielding breeds and varieties.
In times of climate change the living conservation of agricultural biodiversity is essential, since their broad genetic spectrum allows adaptation to an changing environment.
SAVE Foundation works with a wide range of local stakeholders to characterise and monitor threatened diversity and to increase capacities, promote in-situ/on-farm conservation and to provide knowledge, information and practical support.
An inextricable link lies between human culture and agrobiodiversity. This is taken into account in all agrobiodiversity conservation activities.
SAVE Foundationwas funded under Dutch law. Thus, there is a legal association based in Switzerland e.g. for funding reasons and to strengthen lobbying: Verein SAVE Foundation Schweiz. The SAVE Project Office is connected with the Swiss association.
International Institutions
Agriculture
CFF
EU
EAAP
Bioversity Int.
efCF
ERPF
FAO AnGR
RBI
Environment
IUCN
WWF-International
UNEP
EuroNatur
Culture
UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage ICH
International Foundation Utrecht, NL
SAVE Board: 13 members from 10 European countries.
Verein zur Förderung
der SAVE Foundation CH
Project – und Network Office
Niederlande
Wageningen
Formal Project-Office
Schweiz
St. Gallen
International Partners (NGOs)
Austria
Arche Astria
Arche Noah
Albanien
AlbaGene
Belgien
Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed SLE
Bulgaria
Semperviva Society
Danmark
Gamle danske husdyrracer ODLB
Germany
Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Tierrassen GEH
Verein zur Erhaltung der Nutzpflanzenvielfalt VEN
Verein zur Erhaltung und Rekultivierung von Nutzpflanzen in Brandenburg VERN
Greece
Almalthia
Aegilops
Irland
Irish Seed Savers Association ISSA
Italy
Associazione R.A.R.E
Sortengarten Südtirol
Netherlands
Stichting the Oerakker
Stichting Zeldzame Huisdierrassen SZH
Portugal
Federação Nacional dos Amoaiçoes de Raças Autóctones FERA
Serbia
Natura Balkanika BOBS
Switzerland
ProSpecieRara
Tschechien
GenoClub
Hungary
CFN
Ukraine
SATrans
Regional Partners (NGOs)
DAGENE (Danubian Association for ANGR), Ungarn
Alpines Netzwerk “Pro PartriMonioMontano”, Schweiz