About the Centre for Biodiversity - Danish Non-Governmental
information
centre
The Centre is an independent Danish information centre
established
in 1995. Its aim is to provide information about preserving the
man-made
diversity of crops and livestock breeds - not in a remote and exclusive
gene bank but at grass-roots level out in the backyard so that the
general
public can once again enjoy the living cultural heritage.
In the old days there was a much more varied range of
varieties of local crops, a variety of potato or strawberry for every
taste
and purpose. Now we only have a few varieties that are well-suited to
mass
production; but they taste pretty much the same and not very exciting!
The old varieties adapted to our climate through
generations
of selection. Well-adapted livestock and plants flourish and therefore
have less need of drugs and toxic sprays.
As a non-governmental organisation the Centre can talk
of threatened plants and animals from a purely preservation-oriented
perspective
- free of political considerations.
And we can also draw attention to adverse development
trends - free of organisational bonds and commercial considerations.
Present situation in Denmark
The recreational breeding culture is a valuable
lifestyle
which does not consume resources and reinforces local social networks.
It represents great potential for grass-roots participation in
conservation.
Nevertheless, Danish authorities are trying to displace this
traditional
lifestyle by bureaucratic means, and a great loss of biological and
cultural
diversity continues.
As an independent Civil Society Organisation the Danish
Centre for Biodiversity strongly opposes this trend, but so far with no
effect, as the Danish authorities, in spite of officially inviting NGOs
to participate, continue the displacing of biodiversity in domestic
animals.
Campaign: online-versions of our flyer -
claiming protection
of smallholders and their animals
Center for Bio-diversitet is an independent NGO/CSO
information-center.
We aim to promote biological diversity and the protection and
conservation
of old and new varieties with valuable characteristics.
"Animals are not just for
profit"
Djur
är
inte
bara
profit!