It is a network of public and private institutions which conserve and/or use plant genetic resources in Oman.

Its overall objective is to share information related to indigenous plant genetic resources and, in particular, to the implementation of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) in Oman.

How does this Mechanism operate?

The Mechanism is used in a transparent way to facilitate access to and analysis of information, to assist decision-making processes, and to conserve the country's historical memory on PGRFA. It also offers an opportunity to the participating institutions to highlight their efforts, contribute to decision-making processes and to widen their visibility at national and international levels. In addition it is useful for:

• Improve the ability of the country to make decisions about plant genetic resources including establishing objectives, defining needs and allocating resources;
• Build stronger partnership among stakeholders in plant genetic resources management in the country;
• Increase understanding by stakeholders about the status of their plant genetic resources;
• Increase the ability of the country to monitor changes in the status of plant genetic resources over time;
• Improve the quality of information about plant genetic resources on national, regional and global levels; and
• Enhance Oman's capacity to meet reporting obligations in international fora, such as the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the International Treaty on PGRFA.

Based on the information available through this Mechanism, a strategic report on the state of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in the country has been prepared. It will be submitted to the FAO Commission on Genetic Resoruces for Food and Agriculture, as the Omanian contribution to the preparation of the Second Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

What instruments does the Mechanism use?

A set of tools agreed by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture:

• a list of indicators and a reporting format to monitor the implementation of the Global Plan of Action; and
• an information system including a database and a search engine.