GENSCOP: A national platform for genetic sudies on species conservation

The pilot project GENSCOP (Genetics of Species Conservation Platform) aims at establishing a national platform, which allows the federal and cantonal authorities to tackle emerging questions of applied conservation by means of genetic methods. This infrastructure consists of

• an online platform and a secrectariate for receiving and forwarding requests,
• currently 4 genetic laboratories with expertise in carrying out genetic studies, and
• an expert panel comprising experienced specialists in conservation genetics and ecology that ensures prompt project progress, accompanies the interpretation of results regarding the questions raised, and derives recommendations for action

The pilot project is being led by the Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques Genève (CJBG), with the participation of laboratories at the Universities of Fribourg and Zurich and the WSL. Ten rare plant species are currently being studied, for which various cantons have been raised particular questions, with the aim of deriving targeted conservation measures from the genetic studies.