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A large number of organisms is released into the open landscape for a variety of reasons, like the planting of shrubs and bushes in the course of land clearance, compensatory measures, recultivation and the sowing of grassland areas, and the planting of roadside greenery. Animal organisms are released for example as fish spawn in inland fisheries to reinforce stocks of commercial fish species.

A number of arguments support the use of regional provenances, for example a greater resistance resulting from adaptation to local conditions, the conservation of functioning species communities and of ecosystematic functions due to stable populations (e.g. protection of mountainsides by mountainous spruce) and the conservation of naturally evolved regional diversity.

In general, reproductive material is deemed regional, if it originates from the region in which it is used. However, this definition requires species-specific differentiation of natural habitats into specific areas of origin, or in waterbodies in the case of aquatic organisms. Demands for proof of regional provenance gives rise to the need for measures to secure regions of origin and the supply of suitable material. There are measures to be taken and research to be done to establish the appropriate framework for the use of regional provenances.

Use of regional provenances in forests

In forest management and planting activities in which forests could develop, the provisions of the German Act on Forest Reproductive Material must be adhered. For the important tree species, the Act only allows seeds to be produced and marketed, if it is gained from approved basic material. For forests and commercial tree species there already exists an established infrastructure for the use of regional provenances.

Use of regional provenances when releasing wild seeds and plants into the open landscape

When planting in the open environment, (for example grasslands, nutrient-poor grasslands, wet grasslands, fringe areas) and when performing engineering work (e.g. securing slopes in road-building activities) seed and planting material from regional wild plants should be used. The formulation of nationally coordinated recommendations in achieving this goal are currently being discussed by seed producers, users and researchers. The main areas of focus are to develop measures to secure the origins of regional seeds and to draw up regional lists of local species that must be taken into account in regional propagation activities. The German Federal Ministry of Agriculture thus supports efforts at European level to create a legal basis under the seed trading law to simplify the marketing of seeds, seed mixtures and planting material with regional provenance.

Use of regional provenances in stocking activities in the fishing sector

Today many fish species are seriously threatened or, as in the case of the Rhine salmon, have already become extinct in Germany. Fisheries, and nature conservationists focus on restocking and renaturation measures and on reintroducing regionally extinct species to compensate for population decline and population collapse of a range of species. However, fish stocking activities do not necessarily improve the situation of aquatic genetic resources. If they are not implemented correctly, they can even have negative impacts. For example, it cannot be ruled out that the release of fish with non-native provenances could influence genetic diversity due to changes in the local gene pool. In the fisheries sector in particular, little is known about the genetic differences in stocks of small non-commercial fish species and there is thus a need for ongoing research. Rules on the use of native species in aquaculture have been agreed on by member states with the EU regulation 708/2007.