A high number of cultivated species is threatened by the genetic erosion caused by the diseases and plagues, disasters and natural changes and the intensive use of a reduced number of modern, highly specialized cultivations.

As signatory to the Agreement of Biological Diversity, Cuba has channeled all its efforts into the conservation and the sustainable use of phytogenetic resources and the promotion of the population's wider participation, especially peasants. The homemade orchards from rural areas constitute an important refuge for traditional cultivation.

This work was aimed to research homemade orchards contribution to the in situ conservation of agricultural diversity, through the study of 39 homemade orchards selected in western, central and eastern regions of the country.

The floral inventory showed the presence of 508 species with different purposes, which belong to 352 genuses and 108 families. The biggest number of species was registered in the central region of Cuba. The medicinal plants have an important position inside Cuban homemade orchards, as well as fruit, timber-yielding and other species. The study of three species' model (Pouteria sapota, Phaseolus lunatus and Capsicum spp.) revealed the existence of considerable infra-specific variability in the island. With all the integration of information, three effective in situ conservation areas of phytogenetic resources were suggested for Cuba; novel methodologies were established worldwide, based on genetic, geographical, social, cultural and economic factors; and training programs and exhibitions of diversity were carried out for diversity management by peasant families.

These results constitute an important scientific contribution for in situ conservation activity of vegetable diversity in general, when demonstrating the effectiveness of rural homemade orchard as a conservation unit, at the same time that they have contributed to the knowledge and development of these resources conservation in the country.

This work has been considered by the International Protection of Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), as one of its insigne projects worldwide, for its methodological contribution in the use and promotion of family orchards. The results have been presented in international and national scientific events on the subject.