FAO PANEL OF EXPERTS ON FOREST GENE RESOURCES
REPORT OF THE FOURTH SESSION

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 9–11 MARCH 1977

I. THE PANEL

The FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources was established in accordance with the directives of the Fourteenth Session of the FAO Conference (November 1967), which read as follows:

“244. Forest Tree Genetic Resources. The Conference requested the Director-General to take into account Recommendation No. 62 of document C 67/AG/FO/1 in formulating the Programme of Work and Budget for 1970–71. It recognized that as development proceeds in the less as in the more advanced areas of the world, the reserves of genetic variation stored in the natural forests have been or are being displaced on an increasing scale. Moreover, efforts to explore and collect forest genetic resources were, on a world scale, inadequate and inadequately concerted.

“245. The Conference requested the Director-General to establish a panel of experts on Forest Gene Resources to help plan and coordinate FAO's efforts to explore, utilize and conserve the gene resources of forest trees and, in particular, help prepare a detailed short-term programme and draft a long-term programme for FAO's action in this field and to provide information to Member Governments.”

The Director-General established the Panel in 1968. A list of current members of the Panel appears in Appendix 1.

The Panel held its first session in Rome in October 1968, its second in Macon, Georgia, in March 1971, and its third in Rome, Italy in May 1974. Reports of these sessions have been published (FAO 1969, FAO 1972, FAO 1974).

The fourth session of the Panel was held in Canberra, Australia, from 9–11 March 1977. Members attending were:

R. Morandini (Chairman, Italy)
M. Hagman (Vice-Chairman, Finland)
W.H.C. Barrett (Argentina)
W.G. Dyson (E.A. Community)
R.C. Ghosh (India)
M.J. Groulez (France)
P.E. Hoekstra (USA)
D.E. Iyamabo (Nigeria)
H. Keiding (Denmark)
R.H. Kemp (U.K.)
J.W. Turnbull (Australia)
R. Villarreal (Mexico)

F. Patiño-Valera (Mexico) attended in an observer capacity. R.L. Willan (FAO) acted as secretary.

The Agenda adopted appears in Appendix 2.

II. RECOMMENDATIONS

A. General

1. To International Organizations

(1) On the assumption that the funds available for seed procurement under FAO's Regular Programme in 1978/79 would be the same as in 1976/77, i.e. US$ 45 000, the Panel recommended that it should be distributed as follows:

1. US$ 10 000 to the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales (INIF) in Mexico, for further exploration and collection of Mexican conifers and hardwoods.

2. US$ 3 000 to the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria, for further exploration and collection of tropical hardwoods in West Africa.

3. US$ 3 000 to the Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, for further exploration and collection of tropical hardwoods in West Africa.

4. US$ 15 000 to the Division of Forest Research, C.S.I.R.O. in Canberra, for further exploration and collection of the genus Eucalyptus and other genera in Australia, and for cooperative exploration and collection expeditions with countries in the East Indies.

5. US$ 5 000 to the Department of Forests, Papua New Guinea for further exploration and collection of species of Eucalyptus, Araucaria, Toona and Flindersia.

6. US$ 1 000 to the United States Forest Tree Seed Centre at Macon, for supply of seed to developing countries.

7. US$ 8 000 for contingencies, to other institutes as required.

(2) The Panel noted with gratification the proposals of FAO's Forestry Department that the Regular Programme funds for Forest Genetic Resources in 1978/79 be substantially increased, as compared with 1976/77. It recommended that, in distributing such additional funds, FAO should give consideration to supporting the following:

1. Exploration/collection of Central American conifers and hardwoods by the Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford.

2. Additional exploration and collection of West African hardwoods by Forest Research Institute of Nigeria and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical.

3. Collection of Mediterranean conifers coordinated by Istituto Sperimentale per la Selvicoltura, Florence.

4. Additional exploration/collection of Australian species by Division of Forest Research, C.S.I.R.O., Canberra.

5. Additional exploration/collection of Papua New Guinea species by Department of Forests, Papua New Guinea.

6. Exploration/collection of Gmelina and other hardwoods, and of Himalayan conifers, by the Indian Forest Service and the Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre.

7. Additional collections by the U.S. Forest Tree Seed Centre, Macon, for supply to developing countries.

8. International surveys and assessments of provenance trials of Eucalyptus and other genera.

9. Training activites in all aspects of the exploration, collection, evaluation, conservation and utilization of forest genetic resources.

(3) The Panel stressed the need for it to maintain its responsibilities for the central direction and coordination of the Global Programme on Forest Genetic Resources. Advice on specialised aspects, e.g. data storage and retrieval, long-term seed storage, could be provided by IUFRO Working Parties or ad hoc panels, but would not replace the global coordinating function, which only the Panel could fulfil.

(4) The Panel emphasised the value of the publication “Forest Genetic Resources Information” and recommended that FAO continue to publish it periodically.

(5) The Panel welcomed the proposed change of title of one post in FAO's Forestry Department from Forestry Officer (Afforestation) to Forestry Officer (Genetic Resources and Tree Improvement), which reflects the importance which Forest Genetic Resources has increasingly assumed in the Department's Regular Programme over the past decade. At the same time it recognised that the increasing commitment for central coordination of the Global Programme, which results from the financial support of UNEP and possibly from future support from IBPGR, would need additional coordinating staff, which might be financed from Trust Funds.

(6) The Panel warmly welcomed the new project on Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources (1108-75-05), which is being financially supported by UNEP, and noted the progress made. It stressed the importance of conservation of natural ecosystems in situ, as the most suitable method for the majority of species, but recognised its long-term nature. Operations for in situ conservation which could be completed in a two year project were confined to ecological survey, demarcation of boundaries etc. For this reason, the Panel noted that the project's operational progress in in situ conservation had been slower than in ex situ conservation. It recommended that attempts to identify worthwhile operations for in situ conservation should be continued for six months. At the end of that period, any funds unspent under in situ conservation could be transferred to establishment of ex situ conservation stands, for which there is a considerable demand, or to training activities. The funds of the current project should, if possible, be allocated in sufficient quantity to cover the full establishment period. The Panel recommended that UNEP give favourable consideration to the continuation of conservation operations by financing a follow-up project when the current project ends.

(7) The Panel recommended that close liaison be maintained with Unesco (MAB 8 programme) and IUCN in all activities concerned with in situ conservation. In situ conservation of forest genetic resources can frequently be combined with nature conservation in general, but the special needs and problems of genetic conservation should not be overlooked.

(8) The Panel noted that the IBPGR at its Third Session (February 1976) had, in addition to food trees, identified the exploration and conservation of the genetic resources of a few species important for agriculture, in connection either with the fuel requirements of farming populations or the stabilization of marginal environments, as projects in which it should be authorized to give limited financial support. The Panel welcomed the interest of the IBPGR in species valuable for agricultural communities and noted the list of candidate species in the secretariat note “Species for Improvement of Agricultural Environment and Rural Living” (FO: FGR/4/6). Of these, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticornis were already included in the UNEP project, while E. microtheca and several species of Acacia and Prosopis should be given high priority.

(9) The Panel emphasised the importance, and the present inadequacy, of training facilities in the comparatively new field of Forest Genetic Resources. It recommended that training should be expanded. It should be adapted to local needs and could include short practical courses in the field, as well as longer and more formal academic courses at universities.

(10) The Panel recommended the intensification of international cooperation in tree breeding programmes for individual species of wide importance, e.g. Pinus caribaea in the tropics, Pseudotsuga in N. America and Europe. Where appropriate, this should include national seed orchards producing seed for international use. An essential part of this work would be the compilation of an international register of seed orchards, following the example of EEC, showing the quantities of seed expected to become available to other countries.

2. To Governments

(1) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent work of the Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre in Humlebaek, Denmark, and noted that the present financing period of the Seed Centre is due to expire in approximately two years. In view of the essential role of the Seed Centre in the series of FAO/DANIDA Training Courses on Tree Improvement, Genetic Resources, Seed Handling and Afforestation, in coordination and advice to regional seed and tree improvement centres, e.g. in India and Thailand, and in evaluation and conservation activities, the Panel recommended that the Danish Government give consideration to the continuation and, if possible, the strengthening of the Seed Centre at Humlebaek.

(2) The Panel noted that a proposal had recently been put forward by FAO that the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) should consider including the establishment of international ex situ provenance conservation stands in its programme. The Panel endorsed this proposal for an important addition to the valuable programme in international forest genetic resources already being carried out with DANIDA support and suggested that the Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre would be the best institute to coordinate the new programme, which would be a logical extension of its existing activities.

(3) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent work of the Commonwealth Forestry Institute at Oxford, through its Unit of Tropical Silviculture, which included such varied activities as the exploration and collection of Central American pines and hardwoods, studies of the genus Agathis and the production of the series of Tropical Forestry Papers. The Panel expressed the hope that the U.K. Government would continue to support this important work.

(4) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent work of the Seed Section of the Division of Forest Research, C.S.I.R.O. Canberra and noted the wide range of species and provenances collected since its last session in 1974. It expressed particular satisfaction that substantial new collections of the Petford and Katherine provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and the Mt. Garnet provenance of Eucalyptus tereticornis had been made for conservation purposes with the assistance of UNEP funds. It recommended that the Division of Forest Research continue these operations, which are of great value to many developing countries, and that, in determining the species to be collected in the future, priority be given to those of value for agricultural communities.

(5) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent work of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales in Mexico, in the further exploration and collection of Pinus oocarpa provenances in the 1976/77 season, and recommended that seed for inter national trials of both the INIF and CFI Oxford collections be distributed as soon as possible. It expressed the hope that these operations be continued and expanded to cover additional genera, e.g. Pseudotsuga, Populus.

(6) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent work of the Indian Forest Service in the exploration and collection of a number of provenances of Gmelina arborea in India, in collaboration with the Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre. In view of the potential importance of this species for many tropical countries, the Panel recommended that this work be continued and extended to other countries.

(7) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent work of the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria and the Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, in the exploration and collection of tropical hardwoods in West Africa, and of the work done by CTFT in collection of eucalypt seed in Australia and the East Indies. It recommended that this work be continued and, if possible, expanded.

(8) The Panel expressed its warm appreciation of the excellent services provided by the U.S. Forest Tree Seed Centre at Macon and recommended that these be continued and expanded.

(9) The Panel recognised the paramount role of national staff in the management and assessment of species and provenance trials, in order to derive information of maximum value for local purposes. At the same time, it recognised the value, for comparing results between countries, of assessments carried out to a common international standard. It recommended that institutes responsible for the coordination of international trials should be prepared, on request, to assist cooperating countries in assessment and documentation of the trials, and should provide the necessary funds for the travel involved.

B. Technical and Operational

(1) The Panel reiterated its previous recommendation that research should be intensified, particularly in the tropics, on flowering and reproductive systems, in addition to seed handling. While welcoming the publication “Tropical Trees, Variation, Breeding and Conservation”, the Panel noted that basic research on reproductive biology of most tropical hardwoods is still lacking.

(2) The Panel welcomed the publication of the Report of the IBPGR Working Group on Engineering, Design and Cost Aspects of long-term Seed Storage Facilities. It recommended that panel members should seek the comments of forest seed experts in their respective countries on the extent to which the prescriptions for long-term storage of agricultural seeds are applicable to forest seeds. If the requirements are similar, at least in the case of “orthodox seeds”, the Panel recommended a survey to ascertain which forest seed centres could provide the recommended facilities.

(3) The Panel reiterated its previous recommendation that information on equipment for seed collection be summarised and published as soon as possible. It noted the current survey of seed equipment being carried out by Dr. Bonner for the IUFRO Working Party on Seed Problems, which is expected to include equipment for seed collection. If additional, more detailed, information is required, the Panel expressed the hope that the FAO/DANIDA Forest Tree Seed Centre would undertake the work. It recommended that the publication should include information on safety regulations.

III. PROGRESS SINCE THIRD SESSION

The Panel reviewed progress made since its third session in May 1974. While individual members were able to give up-to-date reports on the countries with which they were familiar, it is certain that information is far from complete, especially with regard to parts of Latin America, eastern Europe and N.E. Asia. No attempt has been made to include national efforts in seed procurement, nor routine purchase and sale of seed in commercial quantities.

Australia

Exploration and collection. In July 1975 the Forest Research Institute of the Forestry and Timber Bureau transferred to the CSIRO Division of Forest Research. The Seed Section of the new Division has continued exploration and seed collection activities. It aims to provide a seed supply service, with particular emphasis on Australian tree seeds for research, and acts as the national seed coordinating centre. The Section currently maintains a stock of seeds of over 400 species of Eucalyptus, 140 species of Acacia, and other genera including Araucaria, Callitris and Casaurina. Approximately 350 seed requests are processed annually involving the despatch of 2 600 seedlots to 70 countries.

During the period under review the Seed Section completed 11 major exploration and collection expeditions and numerous short trips. The quantity of seed collected was Eucalyptus spp. 116 kg, Araucaria cunninghamii 156 kg, and smaller amounts of Acacia spp. FAO funds have been used to finance travel and travel allowances, other expenses have been covered by Australian funds.

Seed collection was concentrated on eucalypts in eastern Australia, particularly high altitude and coastal species in New South Wales and Victoria; and tropical and subtropical species in Queensland. In addition an expedition, with the cooperation of Australian, Indonesian and Papua New Guinean forestry authorities, was sent to Irian Jaya, Indonesia. The seed collections generally aimed to procure material suitable for introduction and provenance research, but more broadly-based collections of E. camaldulensis and E. tereticornis were made for gene conservation purposes. Summaries of the results for collection expeditions are provided in Appendix 3.

Information. Staff of the Seed Section continued to provide ad hoc advice on the handling and use of tree seeds to many countries. It participated in the FAO/DANIDA training course on forest tree seed in Thailand in 1975 and made a major contribution to an Australian Government sponsored training course on Forest Genetic in 1977.

The monographs on eucalypts were continued by the CSIRO Division of Forest Research and publication of a series of Australian Acacia species commenced.

Two important books on eucalypts are expected to be published in Australia during 1977–78. One is entitled “Eucalypts for wood production in Australia”, the other is a manual on Eucalyptus seed.

Gene Conservation. The trend for an increasing scale of intensive forestry operations in Australia continues and the need for gene conservation has become more apparent. Foresters are becoming aware of the concept of genetic variability and the advisability of conserving it. In 1976 the Forest Genetics Research Working Group of the Australian Forestry Council appointed a sub-committee to prepare a statement on the status and methods of conservation of forest genetic resources in Australia. Recent developments in forest gene conservation are outlined by L.A. Pederick (1976), which is reproduced as Appendix 9.

The Panel noted the large demand for seed of eucalypts in certain countries, notably Brazil which had recently imported tons of seed each year, not only from Australia but also from several countries in Africa.

Denmark

The Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre has continued its operations in S.E. Asia over the previous three years. Main emphasis has been on a cooperative programme, with the Indian Forest Service for the collection of Gmelina arborea seed (Lauridsen 1977). In 1976 the collections represented 35 localities of which 31 came from India, 2 from Thailand and 2 from Africa (Malawi and Ivory Coast respectively). The distribution of seed for internationally coordinated provenance will start in 1977 and be supplemented with collections carried out in 1977 and 1978, extending both the range of provenances and the quantities of seed. Problems of seed viability have been encountered, so distribution of seed is made soon after collection.

No new collections of teak seed have been made, pending the results of the existing international provenance trials. Some early results have been reported (Keiding 1977) but the trials are still too young for firm conclusions to be drawn. Earlier trials in Ivory Coast have indicated that local West African sources flower earlier than introduced sources from India and Tanzania (Delaunay 1977).

Interest has been expressed in range-wide provenance collections and trials of Pinus wallichiana, the Blue Pine, and it may be possible to start collections before the end of 1977. Seed of Douglas Fir provenances collected under the aegis of IUFRO was sent to Korea and India.

Four centres for seed procurement and tree improvement are to be established in India, through an Indian/Danish cooperative programme. Danish support is still being provided for the Thai/Danish pine project.

Current financing of the Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre is due to expire in about two years. The Panel decided to recommend that DANIDA consider extending and expanding this valuable programme. Possible fields for expansion would be the establishment of international ex situ conservation stands and coordination of assessments of international provenance trials.

A Training Course on Forest Tree Seed Collection and Handling was held in Thailand in 1975. That on Nursery and Establishment Techniques for African Savannas in Nigeria had to be cancelled, but the lecture notes, in both English and French, were published in 1977 (FAO 1977).

East Africa

Tree improvement within the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is done mainly on a part-time basis by officers who have to combine it with silvicultural research, helped by specialized advice from the Tree-breeding Section at EAAFRO.

International provenance trials are well represented in the region and a comprehensive evaluation of the Pinus caribaea and P. oocarpa trials was carried out recently, with assistance from CFI Oxford. Indications are that Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis is the variety best suited to elevations below 400 m. This variety grows well up to 1 300 m but, near the upper edge of the range, Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis is nearly as productive and shows better stem form. In Uganda, Pinus oocarpa from the southern part of its natural range has also grown well, with Nicaraguan provenances showing early vigour. On sites at elevations between 1 200 and 2 000 m, which are too high for best growth of P. caribaea and too low for the best performance of P. patula var. typica, a Mortenson collection (E.M.70) from Chiapas, Mexico has given outstanding early growth. This pine, previously named P. oocarpa var. ochoterenae is now thought to be Pinus patula var. longipedunculata following recent taxonomic work by CFI botanists. (Styles 1977).

All three East African countries can now supply commercial quantities of seed of Pinus patula, Cupressus lusitanica and Eucalyptus grandis. Kenya takes part in both ISTA and OECD schemes for agricultural seed and can provide certificates for source-identified forest seed on the OECD blue form. Tanzania and Uganda, although not belonging to the above organizations, can provide similar information on source-identify.

Progress has been made in saving the endangered species Tecleopsis glandulosa. Propagation will double the number of individuals from 100 to 200 this year. But the species Caesalpinia dahlei, mentioned in the Report of the Panel's Third Session is now almost certainly extinct.

The publication by IUCN on “The Distribution of Protected Areas in Relation to the Needs of Biotic Community Conservation in Eastern Africa” (Lamprey 1975) gave useful information on the extent to which the various natural ecosystems in eastern Africa were conserved in existing reserves and parks. Since then Kenya has created three new natural reserves within its forest reserves, which should conserve three out of the five ecosystems not previously having adequate conservation status.

France

The various stations of CTFT in Africa and elsewhere have continued to be active in international seed procurement. Seeds of Allanblackia floribunda, Aucoumea klaineana, Canarium schweinfurthii, Entandrophragma angolense, Khaya grandifoliola, Lovoa trichilioides, Mansonia altissima, Terminalia ivorensis, T. superba and Thieghemella heckelii have been exported to countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. A number of new provenance trials have been added to those reported at the Third Session. For example Senegal alone planted 59 species/provenances in trials in 1976. Gabon added an additional 10 provenances of Aucoumea to its trials in 1975 and in Congo action was taken to conserve 10 provenances of Terminalia superba in situ. Earlier trials yielded results. Two provenances of Cedrela odorata were clearly superior in Ivory Coast, while in Congo new provenance introductions of Eucalyptus urophylla from 300–400 m gave promising results, in contrast to the disappointing performance of the earlier introductions from above 1 200 m.

Studies of floral biology have started in several countries. In Gabon research on Aucoumea has shown that trees that appear to be monoecious are effectively dioecious because either the male or female flowers are sterile. Controlled pollination has been found easy in the tropical pines in Congo and research is now starting on this in eucalypts. Rooting of cuttings of eucalypts is now carried out successfully on a field scale in Congo and 320 ha were planted by this method in 1976 (Chaperon and Quillet 1977). Cuttings of Terminalia superba are also easy to root. Research is now starting on pines and Araucaria.

Some eucalypt hybrids have shown considerable promise, e.g. E. urophylla × E. alba, E. tereticornis × E. saligna.

Work has also continued on drought resistant species for the Sahel Zone, e.g. in Senegal, Upper Volta and Niger. Of the eucalypts, certain provenances of E. camaldulensis and E. microtheca have given the best results, but no eucalypt has been found which will perform well in less than 600 mm south of the Sahara. Azadirachta indica has shown promise in some areas and trials of additional provenances are required. Acacia auriculaeformis, A. pyrifolia and A. montfordii are also promising.

Seed orchards of pines and eucalypts have been established in Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, etc.

India

During the past two years, progress has been made in the identification and survey of biosphere reserves. This work was stimulated by two meetings held on biosphere reserves under the Unesco MAB 8 programme, one in Kathmandu for mountain forests, the other in Benares for deciduous forests in peninsular India. Proposals have been made for the reservation of reserves in the Himalayas which would include a number of important conifers, e.g. Pinus armandii, P. wallichiana, P. gerardiana, Cedrus deodara, Juniperus spp.

Rain forest is the forest type presenting most difficulties for conservation, but a survey has recently been carried out in the Andaman Islands for both rain forest and marine reserves, and commercial fellings there were suspended. Pterocarpus dalbergioides is the most valuable species in these forests. Individuals with burred figure fetch a high price as cabinet wood, but it is not known whether this character is genetically controlled or not.

Some work has been done in exploration of the genus Populus and seven species have been identified as occurring in India. Clone banks of Tectona have been established, including 20–30 clones. Santalum album is threatened by an insect-borne phytoplasm disease; research is under way to identify resistant individuals for breeding purposes.

Provenance trials have been planted of the following exotic conifers: Pinus caribaea, P. oocarpa, P. kesiya, Pseudotsuga. A training course was held on the silviculture of tropical pines and further courses are proposed. In addition to the 4 centres for seed procurement and tree improvement to be established under the Indian/Danish cooperative programme mentioned above, the Indian Forest Service intends to set up two more centres from its own resources.

Emphasis is being put on tree-planting for rural communities in arid or semi-arid areas. Of the indigenous species, Acacia nilotica, of which three varieties occur in India, A. senegal, A. tortilis and Prosopis spicigera show promise and some provenance collections have been made. Eucalyptus tessellaris, E. terminalis and E. melanophloia have proved the best adapted to conditions on the margins of the arid zone, out of the many species introduced. In moister areas, Norus alba is a valuable species for cottage industries and triploid varieties are being propagated.

The communal flowering of some species of bamboo presents difficulties for gene resource conservation. Storage as seed in a desiccator with silica gel, at room temperature (15–30°C) has given better results than cold storage, with germination of 80% after 2 years. As a result of after-ripening, this is better than the germination of fresh seed.

In wet tropical areas where Eucalyptus grandis from the main southern part of the range has proved highly susceptible to the fungus Corticium salmonicolor, E. torelliana has shown itself to be resistant. This species occurs in the same part of N. Queensland as the isolated occurrence of E. grandis which has been less susceptible than the southern provenance to the fungus Diaporthe in Brazil. The northern provenance of E. grandis would therefore be worthy of trial in India.

A comprehensive book on afforestation techniques in India will be published shortly.

Mediterranean and Western Europe

Seed of up to 65 provenances of Pinus brutia, P. halepensis and P. eldarica has been distributed to 16 institutes. These will be used in 10 long-term and 18 short-term trials, in accordance with a standard protocol indicated by the Italian coordinators. Some of these trials were planted in 1976, others will be planted within the next year. The Quetta (Pakistan) and Herat (Afghanistan) land races could not be included because seed was not available, although the Herat source performed best in dry parts of Australia (Palmberg 1976) and the Quetta source is reported to have shown considerable promise in cold, dry areas in Arizona, U.S.A.

Ten provenances of Abies cephalonica, with seed collected from 30 individual trees per provenance, have been distributed, thanks to the kind coopration of Greek foresters. Stands of the 5 most important provenances have been set aside as in situ conservation stands. Provenances of Pinus nigra are being collected currently and it is hoped to complete the collections during the next year. Results of older provenance trials of Larix in Central and southern Europe are to be summarized during the next year.

Two rare species, Abies nebrodensis and Cupressus dupreziana, are less endangered now than they were. The number of known mature (or overmature) trees of the former have risen from 21 to 26 and of the latter from 84 to 126, and young trees of both species have been planted. On the other hand, some populations of Cupressus sempervirens have recently become endangered by severe attacks of the canker fungus Coryneum cardinale. A search is being made for resistant individuals. In the Taurus range of Turkey, stands of Cedrus libani are now strictly protected.

The EEC seed certification scheme is now fully operational in 9 countries in Europe, while seed source identification of all seed imported from outside the EEC has to conform with the OECD provisions. Considerable quantities of seed are imported, e.g. Fagus silvatica and Picea abies from Eastern Europe, Douglas Fir from N. America (28 tons of seed were imported into W. Europe in 1976).

Mexico

INIF has now been given the responsibility for supplying seed for all afforestation work in Mexico. This has resulted in increased support from the Government, giving rise to the setting up of seven regional Centres in Mexico. There are also six research stations.

INIF was responsible for distributing seed for both Mexican and Central American provenances of Pinus pseudostrobus to seven countries in Latin America, including Mexico itself, for international provenance trials.

In 1976–77 a further 24 seedlots of Pinus oocarpa were collected from the States of Hidalgo, Guerrero and Chiapas, bringing the total number of provenances collected up to 44. It should be possible to distribute seed for international trials of this species including both Mexican and Central American provenances shortly. Pinus patula provenances collected so far are not sufficient for distribution now, but it is intended to give priority to this species in the 1977/78 collections. A list of geographical locations and seed weights collected appears in Appendix 4.

Seed production areas of Pinus oocarpa, P. patula and P. pseudostrobus have been established.

Two areas have been identified as possible biosphere reserves in the MAB 8 programme. Pinus strobus var. chiapensis, two species of Picea and Pseudotsuga flauhalti are considered as endangered in at least part of their range. Five thousand hectares of Picea were burnt.

Interest has been directed towards species of value for food, fodder or medicinal purposes, e.g. Dioscorea composita, Atriplex species. Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. citriodora have shown promise under severe arid conditions. In addition to pines, Mexico has three international trials of teak under way.

Nigeria

Studies on the distribution of Triplochiton scleroxylon and Terminalia ivorensis have been completed and those on T. superba and species of Khaya, Entandrophragma and Chlorophora are nearing completion. Distribution maps will be prepared.

Studies on reproductive and seed biology of Triplochiton, Gmelina and teak have been continued. A valuable summary of information on the biology of Triplochiton resulted from the Symposium on Variation and Breeding Systems of Triplochiton scleroxylon, held at Ibadan in April 1975 (Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan 1975) and more recent results have been published recently (Longman et al. 1977, Howland et al. 1977). Research on vegetative propagation of Triplochiton has yielded excellent results and it is now possible to mass produce this species through cuttings. Vegetative propagation is also being studied in teak, Gmelina, Pinus and Eucalyptus.

There are seven Strict National Reserves in Nigeria and it is planned to expand the system to cover a wider range of representative ecological types throughout the country. In each reserve the intention is to carry out an integrated programme of in situ management, conservation and scientific research. Ex situ conservation stands are being established of several provenances each of Pinus caribaea, P. oocarpa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticornis, as part of the global programme. Some of the funds are being provided under the UNEP project, but the greater part by Nigeria.

Seed orchards of teak and Gmelina have been established in the southern part of the country and there are also seed stands of these species and of tropical pines and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Large quantities of seed are collected from natural forest every year. Details of seed collections and seed storage facilities are shown in Appendix 10.

Scandinavia and Northern Europe

Conservation has been a major concern in Scandinavia for some time and there is a good coverage of national parks (open to tourists) and nature reserves (closed to tourists). No ecosystems are known to be endangered. In the current “wetlands year” of IUCN the Finnish Government has been purchasing additional wetlands to conserve them.

Some threat to the native gene resources is posed by the recent introductions and large-scale planting programmes of exotic provenances, e.g. the Eastern European provenances of Picea abies, which grow faster than the native provenances. The scale of planting may be judged from the fact that two tons of Picea seed were imported into Sweden in 1976. To guard against hybridization, Finland is setting aside 25 areas of 100 ha each as gene preservation stands, scattered throughout the various forest types. The intention is to manage these stands on a 100 year rotation, one hectare being felled and replanted annually with control-pollinated seed from the same local source to avoid pollen pollution from nearby stands of the non-indigenous provenances. In the USSR concern for the environment is reflected in the new forest law, in which conservation aspects are stressed.

Registration schemes will follow the OECD model. An inventory of existing seed lots has already been put on the Finnish Forest Department computer. This is to be extended to the inventory of all planted stands in Finland.

Provenance trials of Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, Contorta pine and Populus trichocarpa have been established. Contorta pine and especially its northern provenances (Northern British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska), now account for ⅓ of the total Swedish planting. Details of provenance experiments of Picea abies in N. Europe will be compiled this year in Norway. Possibilities of computerizing provenance data are being investigated in Denmark.

Interest in tree planting for garden purposes has led the Finnish Foundation to send expeditions to countries with similar climates, e.g. Patagonia, Korea and N.E. Siberia. About 700 specimens were collected in each expedition. Some species are useful for forestry as well as ornamental purposes, e.g. Pinus koraiensis and Picea spp. from Siberia. Reports on these expeditions are expected to be submitted later this year.

Danish seed orchards planted in France have flowered in 92 days between seed sowing and flowering.

South America

Little or no regional coordination takes place in forest genetic resources. Most countries are more concerned with planting exotics than exploring the variation in the indigenous species, which are mostly slow-growing or, in the case of the top-class softwood species Araucaria angustifolia, very demanding as to site. In Chile the main effort is on Pinus radiata, although a number of countries in Europe are becoming increasingly interested in the genetic resources of Nothofagus.

The genus Melia has shown itself to be an acceptable substitute for Cedrela since, although its timber is slightly inferior to quality, it is faster growing and does not suffer from attack by Hypsipyla.

Large-scale introduction of exotics has taken place without precise knowledge of the provenance. In N.E. Argentina 200% difference occurs between the best and the worst provenances of loblolly pine; the best is from North-Central Florida. Differences between provenances of Pinus patula is much less.

In Argentina and southern Brazil, var. bahamensis is likely to be the most useful provenance of Pinus caribaea, but little seed is available. A 50 ha plantation planted in 1959 in Argentina has not yet produced cones. The variety caribaea is performing well (35m³/ha/an) in the sandy soils of the northeast.

U.K.

Since the Panel's third session, the Unit of Tropical Silviculture, financed by the Overseas Development Ministry and based at CFI Oxford, continued its activities in forest genetic resources. During this period the Central American region, and the lower elevation tropical pines, continued to be the main centre of activity, but attention has been increasingly given to some hardwood species in that region, and to the genus Agathis throughout its natural range.

Exploration and seed collection for provenance research

Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis. By August, 1972, the sampling of the natural range for provenance research was judged to have been completed, pending indications from the field trials on the possible need for further collections (Kemp, 1973a). From 1974 onwards seed collection was directed to obtaining larger quantities of selected provenances, to meet the continued demand for further trials in the international series, and for the establishment of ex situ “conservation stands” and “selection stands”. The work was concentrated mainly at the southern limits of the natural range, in Nicaragua, and also on the most severely dry occurrences in upland Honduras.

Since 1974 exploration has been concerned mainly with the mycorrhizal fungi associated with the natural forests of P. caribaea, on a variety of sites in Central America and the Bahamas.

Annual seed collections from candidate “plus” trees on the Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize, were continued, with the assistance of the Belize Forest Department.

P. caribaea var. bahamensis and var. caribaea. Approximately 3.5 kg of seed was collected on Grand Bahama Island in 1974 (K110) and 2.5 kg of seed of the Pinar del Rio provenance, in Cuba, was obtained from the Cuban Forest Service, for inclusion in provenance trials.

P. oocarpa. In contrast to P. caribaea, exploration of the natural range, and seed collections of additional provenances, have continued throughout the period of this report, and from 1974 onwards 9 new provenances have been collected, bringing the total to 48. At the same time repeated collections of selected provenances have been made, mainly for conservation ex situ.

Early results from the international provenance trials revealed the importance of some Nicaraguan sources which had not been previously collected. Priority has therefore been given to further exploration, and repeated seed collections, in this sector of the natural range, close to the extreme southern limit of the species, and candidate “plus” trees have been selected for annual seed collection.

Botanical exploration and taxonomic studies have been continued. A recent publication (Styles, 1977) was devoted to the identity of “Pinus oocarpa var. ochoterenai” which has been frequently, and incorrectly, referred to in connection with recent successful introductions to tropical sites. This variety, as originally described by Martínez (1948), is now thought to be conspecific with P. patula. However the varietal name “ochoterenai” had come to be used by some commercial seed collectors and seed vendors for any Central American provenance which was believed to be a good seed source for tropical plantations, in contrast to the var. typica. This usage is known to be incorrect and should be discouraged.

P. pseudostrobus. The seed collection season for this species (and the closely allied, and possibly conspecific, P. tenuifolia) overlaps with the end of the P. oocarpa season and the start of the P. caribaea season. Since it has been given lower priority it was not until 1974 onwards that much collection time could be devoted to it. The collections so far made represent 13 provenances.

Agathis spp. Exploration throughout the natural range of Agathis was started in 1974. The field work so far has been confined to botanical and ecological exploration, and to the observation of trial plantings, while herbarium and laboratory studies have been devoted to the taxonomy, and the problems of seed storage. A technique for safe handling and storage of the seed has been devised, which may permit seed collection for provenance trials. A report on the work will shortly be published in the CFI series of Tropical Forestry Papers (No. 11).

Cordia alliodora. Exploration of the natural range in Central America was started in 1976 and small samples of seed were collected for storage trials. Collections for international provenance trials will be started in this sector of the range in 1977. The geographical limits of the species are very wide, extending from Tropic to Tropic on the American mainland, and to several islands in the Caribbean.

Other species. Following indications from provenance trials of good performance by some Central American provenances of Cedrela odorata it is planned to undertake further seed collections from this sector of the natural range from 1977 onwards. Other species under consideration include Bombacopsis quinata, P. occidentalis and P. strobus var. chiapensis.

Seed collection for gene conservation and tree improvement

Seed collection for this purpose was initiated in 1973 and has since been intensified with financial assistance from the UNEP (Project 1108-75-05) in 1977. Particular attention has been given to the most southerly occurrences, close to the limits of the natural ranges of each species. The main provenances so far included in this aspect of collection are given in the list below.

The Alamicamba collections of P. caribaea and the Yucul and Dipilto collections of P. oocarpa represent seed sources which have shown greatest promise in the international trials, and which had previously been represented inadequately, if at all, in exotic plantations. The Los Limones provenance of P. caribaea and the Bonete provenance of P. oocarpa are from the most severely dry sectors of the natural ranges, and already severely depleted.

Distribution of seed is already in progress under the UNEP/FAO Project 1108-75-05 and so far includes K106, K124, K128 and K103 from the above list.

Evaluation

Distribution of seed for international provenance trials has continued and so far 185 trials of P. caribaea and 160 trials of P. oocarpa have been initiated. Although most of these are still at a very early stage, some valuable conclusions can be reached. These are summarized in Greaves and Kemp 1977a, 1977b.

An international provenance trial of P. pseudostrobus was initiated in 1976, in collaboration with the Institute Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales (INIF) Mexico. So far only a few countries have been included as participants in the trial, due to shortage of seed of some provenances.

U.S.A.

During the period from February 1974 to December 1976, the U.S. Forest Tree Seed Centre made use of the FAO financial contribution to the Centre by sending seed of a number of different provenances to the following developing countries: Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Korea, Morocco, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Turkey and Uraguay.

The publication in 1974 of “Seeds of woody plants in the United States” (Agriculture Handbook No. 450) provided a comprehensive reference book of 883 pages which is of value to many other countries.

Endangered Species Act of 1973

The United States of America is committed to international as well as national programmes designed to conserve species of flora and fauna that are threatened with extinction.

Nationally, the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior has the lead role in the conservation of threatened and endangered species on federal lands and on all other lands involved in programmes that receive federal funds. The Forest Service is at work on a proposal for a programme dealing with the flora on lands under its jurisdiction. A preliminary list contains some 1 800 plant species, nearly half of which occur in the Hawaiian Islands. At present this listing is being reviewed prior to publication of a final list.

OECD Seed Certification

Application of the OECD Scheme for certification of forest tree seed started last fall in the States of Washington and Oregon. Owing to a reasonably good seed year and good support both from seedsmen and from customers, literally hundreds of seedlots, mainly of Douglas Fir, have been certified. Thus far only one category, source identified, is being certified. As experience is gained in applying the Scheme and higher categories of seed become available, certification will be extended to include these also.

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR)

The CGIAR has as its main purpose the mobilization of long-term financial support from international agencies, governments and private sources in order to cover gaps in agricultural research in developing countries. It was established in January 1971, under the joint sponsorship of the IBRD, FAO and UNDP. The IBPGR, one of the subsidiary bodies of the CGIAR, was established in February 1974 to provide coordination of international action in plant genetic resources and to recommend projects to the CGIAR for financing. Technical advice to the CGIAR is provided by its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

Since the Third Session of the Panel, no funds had been provided by the CGIAR for forest genetic resources, nor had a firm decision been taken as to whether forest genetic resources, and forestry in general, fell within the mandate of the CGIAR and, if so, the extent of financial support to be provided from CGIAR funds.

The Global Programme for Forest Genetic Resources was submitted to the Secretariat of the Board by the end of 1974. At the Board's Second Session, May 1975, Mr. Bouvarel, its forester, presented a paper which gave the Forest Genetic Resources background and described the main features of the global programme. Subsequently, in 1975, proposals for two small projects were submitted to the Board's Executive Committee; the budget of each project was less than the maximum which the Executive Committee had been empowered by the Board to approve on its own outhority.

At its Third Session in February 1976 the Board invited Prof. Morandini, Chairman of the Panel, to review the activities of the Panel since its establishment in 1968 and the financial resources needed to implement the global programme. The Board unanimously recommended that certain limited projects in forestry, i.e. food trees, fuel wood species and stabilization of marginal environments, should qualify for Board support, as well as the extension of the Genetic Resources Communication/Information/Documentation System (GR/CIDS) to forestry genetic resources collections. However, a previous ruling of the Board's parent body, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and its Technical Advisory Committee, instructed the Board not to finance any forestry project without referring the proposal to them. The Chairman of the Board submitted its recommendations to CGIAR in June 1976. TAC considered the case for support to Forest Genetic Resources at its meeting in February 1977. It decided to request the IBPGR to submit a proposal to it for Forest Genetic Resources.¹

One valuable contribution from IBPGR was the publication of the Report of its Working Group on Engineering, Design and Cost Aspects of Long-term Seed Storage Facilities (IBPGR 1976). Although the Working Group was concerned with long-term storage of agricultural seeds, many of its recommendations are likely to be equally applicable to forest tree seeds.

FAO

FAO Regular Programme funds available for seed procurement and forest genetic resources in 1974/75 amounted to US$ 40 000 and were distributed in accordance with the recommendations of the Panel at its Third Session. Details are shown in Appendix 5.

In 1976/77 FAO RP funds amount to US$ 45 000 and the distribution is shown in Appendix 5, which summarises FAO's contributions over the period 1966–77.

“Forest Genetic Resources Information” has continued to be published in three languages. No. 4 appeared in 1975, No. 5 in 1976 and No. 6 in 1977. The revised edition of the FAO Forest Tree Seed Directory and “The Methodology of Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources - report of UNEP/FAO Pilot Study” were published in 1975.

FAO staff have devoted a considerable amount of time over the past year to the implementation of the UNEP project on Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources (see below under UNEP) and to the preparations for the Third World Consultation on Forest Tree Breeding. It has not been possible to find a replacement for the associate expert whose departure took place immediately after the last meeting of the Panel.

IUCN

IUCN has conducted several surveys to ascertain to what extent vegetation types and ecosystems are represented in existing national parks, nature reserves, forest reserves, etc. how effective conservation is in such areas, and what additional measures are needed to include representative samples of each ecosystem in some form of conservation area. Reports have already been published on eastern Africa (Lamprey 1975) and S.E. Asia (Whitmore 1976). Surveys are continuing in other areas.

Data sheets prepared by the IUFRO Working Party on Conservation of Forest Gene Resources (see under IUFRO) are likely to be published by IUCN in its Red Data Book series on endangered and rare species.

IUFRO

At the 16th Congress of IUFRO in Oslo, some changes were made in the Working Parties directly or indirectly concerned with Forest Genetic Resources. The current list of relevant Subject Groups and Working Parties and the names of their officers is shown in Appendix 6.

The Working Party on Conservation of Gene Resources (WP S2.02-02) has continued to prepare data sheets of species undergoing genetic impoverishment. The list of species of which sheets are available are as follows:

Abies numidica
Alnus jorullensis
Cupressus atlantica
Cupressus dupreziana
Eucalyptus deglupta
Eucalyptus globulus
Juniperus bermudiana
Nesogordonia papaverifera
Pericopsis elata
Pinus armandii, var. amamiana
Pinus koraiensis
Pinus pentaphylla
Pinus radiata
Tecleopsis glandulosa
Ulmus wallichiana

Data sheets are available from the W.P. Chairman, Professor L. Roche, University of Wales, Bangor. Some have been published in “Forest Genetic Resources Information”.

Working Parties S2.02-08 (tropical species, provenances, seed collection) and S2.03-01 (breeding tropical and sub-tropical species) continued their active collaboration with further meetings in Oxford in 1975 (Burley and Styles 1976) and in Brisbane in 1977 (Workshop on “Variation of Growth, Stem Quality and Wood Properties in relation to Genetic Improvement of Tropical Forest Trees”). Working Party S2.02-12 summarized information on the nursery stage of the international provenance trials of Picea sitchensis (O'Driscoll 1976).

As in the earlier two Consultations, the Third World Consultation on Forest Tree Breeding involved the close collaboration of IUFRO, FAO and the host government (Australia).

UNEP

The “Proposals for a Global Programme for Improved Use of Forest Genetic Resources” made by the Panel at its third session (Rome 1974) included the proposal that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) should assume responsibility for financing a substantial part of the operations to be carried out in conservation. UNEP had already demonstrated its interest in conservation of forest genetic resources by financing the short-term pilot study on “The Methodology of Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources”. The resulting report (FAO/UNEP 1975) made similar proposals for international action in conservation as those of the Panel.

In June 1975, FAO submitted to UNEP a proposal for a new project “Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources”. The period of the project was for two years, to fit in with UNEP's budgetary arrangements, in contrast to the five year programming period of the Global Programme. Because of possible financial constraints, the proposal was prepared at three different levels - Level 1 (“Full”), Level 2 (“Priority”) and Level 3 (“Urgent”). Level 1 corresponded to the Panel's Global Programme proposals. UNEP agreed to finance the project at Level 2, and the contribution is a little over two-thirds of that proposed for Level 1.

The project document was signed in June 1976 and the project became operational in the second half of 1976.

Objectives

1. To reinforce and accelerate existing programmes of seed collection of important species and populations for conservation ex situ in Latin America, Asia and Africa Regions.

2. To establish pilot ex situ conservation stands of two species of Pinus and one of Eucalyptus (total eight provenances) in ten developing countries.

3. To develop pilot projects for in situ conservation of forest ecosystems in India, West and East Africa.

4. To disseminate information on conservation of forest genetic resources, including information on endangered populations and species and on methods and costs of conservation obtained during the achievement of objectives (1) – (3) above.

5. To revise and up-date the conservation sectors of the “Proposals for a Global Programme for Improved Use of Forest Genetic Resources” (FAO 1975) as the basis for an expanding long-term programme to conserve forest genetic resources.

Progress

Dr. D.A.N. Cromer spent a month as consultant in Rome in July/August 1976, during which he drafted preliminary notes on a long-term programme for Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources. In consultation with Mr. R.H. Kemp, he also prepared the “Draft outline of agreement between FAO and Cooperating Countries” for the establishment of ex situ conservation/selection stands, which is reproduced in Appendix 7. This document, with the accompanying four annexes, has been the basis for arranging the establishment of conservation/selection stands in two Asian and five African countries, as described below.

During August/September 1976 Dr. Cromer visited two countries in Asia, India and Thailand. His visits to two other Asia/Pacific countries, Sabah and Fiji, had to be cancelled for health reasons. During September/October Mr. Kemp visited six countries in Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Congo, Nigeria and Ivory Coast. The most important recommendations from these consultant missions were for the early establishment of ex situ conservation/selection stands in seven developing countries as shown in Table 1. Each stand will be 10 ha in area.

Table 1

Proposed ex situ conservation/selection stands by country, species and provenance

In some cases the establishment of a stand of a eucalypt species was proposed to separate two pine stands and thus reduce the risk of inter-species or inter-provenance hybridization. The eucalypt stand may itself consist of an important provenance such as the Cooktown provenance of E. tereticornis; it then fulfills a dual function as a conservation/selection stand in its own right and as a buffer between two pine stands. In other cases a readily available local seed source of eucalypt may be used for the buffer stand.

The original project document included only one species of eucalypt, E. tereticornis. In the light of the consultant's recommendations, FAO proposed to UNEP that, where appropriate, additional species of eucalypt be included in the project, such as the Petford, Katherine and Gibb River provenances of E. camaldulensis and, for tropical countries with a very short or no dry season, E. deglupta and E. urophylla.

Letters of intent, confirming the countries' acceptance of their responsibilities for establishing and managing the stands and for making 50% of the seed harvest available to other countries, had been received from five countries and arrangements were already in hand for the transfer of seed and funds. Some countries propose to establish additional national stands at their own expense.

As anticipated, it was much more difficult to identify useful ways of using international funds for in situ conservation of natural ecosystems within the countries visited. Ecological survey as a prerequisite for the selection and declaration of areas as Natural Reserves is one operation which would justify the use of international funds, and there are possibilities for this, e.g. in Kenya and Zambia.

For collection of seed in sufficient quantity for the establishment of ex situ conservation/selection stands, project funds have been distributed as follows:

1. US$ 7 000 to CFI Oxford for Central American species, with priority to promising provenances of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and P. oocarpa.

2. US$ 5 000 to CSIRO Canberra for Australian eucalypts and acacias, with priority to promising provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticornis.

3. US$ 5 000 to Forestry Department, Papua New Guinea for indigenous species, with priority to Eucalyptus deglupta, Araucaria species and Cedrela toona.

¹ Note: Since the meeting of the Panel, a meeting of the Executive Committee of IBPGR has indicated that modest financial support to projects in forest genetic resources could be made available from 1979.

IV. CONSERVATION OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES

The Panel noted with gratification the initiation in 1976 of the project, supported financially by UNEP, for Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources and expressed its hope that this pilot project would lead to a long-term and expanded programme (for project summary, see pp. 16–17 above).

The Panel noted that most progress had been made in getting action under way for the establishment of ex situ conservation/selection stands. It felt that the “Draft Outline of Agreement” with its four technical appendixes (see Appendix 7) was a useful basis for defining the respective responsibilities of Cooperating Countries and International Agencies, and for ensuring consistently high standards of establishment and maintenance. The main problems were:

1. For some countries, the amount of costs over the 4–5 year establishment period had been underestimated due to the high initial cost of clearing, as well as to the effects of inflation.

2. The later management of the stands is likely to depend on whether conservation of maximum genetic diversity or selection of locally superior genotypes is the primary object of management. If thinning is to be done, mechanical thinning (e.g. removal of alternate rows) is likely to be appropriate for the first object of management, selective thinning for the latter. Genetic diversity may be most important for the international purposes, local superiority for the purposes of the host organization. The Panel felt that it was important that host organizations should be convinced that they themselves would be the main beneficiaries from establishing and managing conservation stands, therefore in cases of doubt the local wish to apply selection on a silvicultural basis should prevail. An important safeguard is that a given provenance should be planted in conservation/selection stands on a number of different sites. Any genotype-site interaction would result in the selection and conservation of a different range of genotypes from one site to another and thus in the conservation of a broader gene-pool over all sites than on any single site. The object of conservation should be to conserve genes rather than genotypes.

The Panel noted that ex situ conservation was only possible for a limited number of commercial species suitable for growing in plantation monocultures. By far the greatest number of species need to be conserved in situ as part of a natural ecosystem. On the other hand, during the current UNEP project, it had proved difficult to identify field operations for in situ conservation with a limited time-span which could be completed during the short (2-year) life of the project.

As a general rule it is difficult to conserve the genetic resources of a species in situ without conserving the natural ecosystem of which it is a part. There are exceptions, e.g. Chlorophora excelsa in African farms or sisal plantations, but not many. Thus genetic resources conservation is only one facet of nature conservation or ecosystem conservation as a whole, which is the concern of a wide spectrum of people, from land-use planners through rational scientists to the most emotionally supercharged “environmentalists”. However, the Panel agreed, at its Third Session, “that the task of in situ conservation cannot be left solely to the conservationists, but that foresters have an obligation to formulate guidelines on in situ conservation of genetic resources”.

It is arguable that a biosphere reserve (Unesco's MAB 8 programme) or other natural reserve which is well sited, well managed and of “adequate” size to conserve the ecosystem (“adequate” is anyone's guesstimate) will automatically conserve the genetic resources of the constituent species. Hence a reasonably competent conservation authority need not make special provision for genetic resources.

The following points are relevant:

1. Distribution of reserves - Certain ecosystems or forest associations may cover a large area, in which the relative frequency and the taxonomy of individual species remains fairly constant and in which morphological differences within species are not readily observable. Yet there may be clinal variation in physiological characters, such as resistance to drought, frost or disease which can only be detected by careful and lengthy research. In such cases a single large central reserve might satisfy the ecosystem conservationist, whereas a scattering of smaller, separate reserves would provide greater insurance against loss of genetic variability.

2. Dynamic management - The keynote is “Conservation”, saving combined with utilization or at least the intention to utilize in the future, as opposed to “Preservation”, saving before anyone else can get in to do something useful, like the dog in the manger. Dynamic management entails (a) provision for seed collection strictly controlled by time, area or quantity, (b) provision for silvicultural operations where required, e.g., use of controlled burning to maintain the desired seral stage in the succession, (c) controlled access to the public for education purposes, not only for scientists, (d) management to prevent contamination from hybridising species or provenances exotic to the area, e.g. by preserving an adequate buffer zone between the strict reserve and the source of contamination, or by replanting with control-pollinated seed from indigenous parents, (e) management of a buffer zone for combined purposes of conservation and other uses, e.g. harvesting followed by regeneration of local provenances, tourism.

3. Number of individuals in gene-pool - The conservationist will require advice on the degree to which his proposed minimum area for conserving an ecosystem is adequate to conserve a gene-pool of the main constituent tree species. It is safe to say that the number must depend on the breeding system of the species and that abysmally little is known about this for most species. There is a pressing need for research. Meanwhile, a commonsense rule of 5 separated areas each containing 200 individuals (Dyson 1974) appears practicable.

In spite of the above considerations, conservation of a natural ecosystem and in situ conservation of genetic resources are difficult to differentiate. In either case, prerequisites for financial assistance from international funds would appear to be:

1. A clear plan on the part of the national authorities as to what needs to be done, backed by the necessary legislation.

2. The supervisory staff to carry it out, preferably in the for of one or more fulltime conservation officers.

3. A clear allocation of responsibility between departments or agencies, e.g. where a strict natural reserve falls within a national park, both the core reserve and the buffer zone should be managed by the park authorities. In the same way, it is logical that the forest department should manage a strict natural reserve within a forest reserve. At the least, the same Ministry should be responsible for both core and buffer zones.

Subject to the above prerequisites, the operations appropriate for funding from international funds could comprise:

1. Survey/inventory before identification of representative samples of ecosystems suitable for natural reserves.

2. Demarcation of boundaries.

3. Patrolling.

4. Research within both the core reserve and the buffer zone.

5. Silvicultural operations, e.g. controlled burning (where necessary to fulfil the objects of management), controlled seed collection.

6. Transport and travelling costs for management staff.

7. Education and public relations.

8. Training

The Panel recognised that long-term ecosystem conservation was expensive and that sources of the large-scale finance required may be more readily and more appropriately available through e.g. Unesco (MAB 8 project) or the World Wildlife Fund. Efforts should be made to identify field operations for financing by the current UNEP project which would be useful and could be completed within a limited period (12–18 months at most). If such operations cannot be identified by September 1977, the money earmarked for in situ conservation in the current UNEP project should be spent on ex situ conservation stands or seed collection instead.

The Panel noted the great value of the concise and factual information contained in the Report of the IBPGR Working Group on Engineering, Design, and Cost Aspects of Long-term Storage Facilities. Although the report was concerned with agricultural seeds, the Panel felt that much of the principles were applicable to forest seeds also. It therefore requested individual Panel Members to draw the attention of forest seed experts in their respective countries to the report and seek their advice on its applicability to forest seeds. This advice should be forwarded to the Secretariat. Long-term seed storage should be increasingly used for provenances and genotypes which may have no immediate place in ex situ conservation stands but need to be conserved as an additional source of variation. If storage requirements are similar, it should be possible to effect big savings in cost by plant and tree breeders sharing common storage facilities while maintaining their own separate records.

The Panel considered the best form of publication required to disseminate information on conservation of forest genetic resources, the preparation of which should be entrusted to IUFRO. The theoretical aspects of the problem had already been adequately covered by Frankel and Bennet, 1970, Frankel and Hawkes, 1975 and Roche et al., 1975. Any new publication should be factual and practical. The gathering together into a single volume of all the data sheets prepared by the IUFRO Working Party on Gene Resources would be a useful contribution, but it was understood that arrangements were already in hand for IUCN to publish them. The preparation of case studies of additional species or ecosystems, to supplement those incorporated in Roche et al. 1975, e.g. Mediterranean species, secondary forest species in Africa, and practical guidelines as to the collection and recording of data on forest genetic resources would be other possibilities.

V. SPECIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL LIVING

At its third session in February 1976 the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) expressed its unanimous opinion, subject to approval by its parent body, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), that in addition to food trees, it ought to be supporting limited projects in forest genetic resources, including … exploration and conservation of the genetic resources of a few species important for agriculture in connection either with fuel requirements or the stabilization of marginal environments.

The natural variation of most of these species has received little or no investigation as yet, so that operations to be carried out must include exploration, collection and evaluation, as well as and in some cases preceding conservation and utilization.

The Panel considered the following categories suitable to engage the interest of the IBPGR:

1. Food (Fo) and fodder (Fd)

   Major tree food crops such as coconut and date palms are agricultural crops and need not be considered here, but species which combine a forest function with production of food or fodder merit inclusion.

2. Fuelwood (Fu)

   In this category some species have already passed through the stages of exploration and evaluation and qualify for immediate planting in provenance conservation/selection stands. A good example is Eucalyptus camaldulensis.

3. Shelterbelts (Sh)

4. Soil stabilization (SS)

   Includes special types such as sand dune stabilization, planting of eroded slopes.

5. Farm forestry (FF)

   Species intimately mixed with agricultural crops (e.g. Acacia albida, A. senegal) or surrounding rural homesteads for shade and amenity.

The Panel considered that the following should be selected as priority species. The list is deliberately biased towards the more arid zones since this is where environmental amelioration or abuse is likely to have the greatest effects.

VI. REVIEW OF GLOBAL PROGRAMME ON FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES

The Panel considered that high priority should continue to be paid to Exploration/Collection, as the basis for all other activities in forest genetic resources, but that this was already ensured through the on-going activities of a number of institutes. It revised the List of Priorities by Region, Species and Operation, in the light of known progress or improved information since its last session. The revised list is in Appendix 8.

In Evaluation, the main responsibility for assessment and records, as well as maintenance, of International Provenance Trials must rest with the host organization, in order that it derive information of maximum value for local purposes. At the same time the Panel recognized the value, for comparing results between countries, of assessments carried out to a common international standard. It considered it to be highly desirable that institutes which coordinate the distribution of seed for international species and provenance trials and which advise on the design of the trials should also be prepared, on request, to assist cooperating countries in their assessment and documentation, and should provide the necessary staff and travel funds for this purpose.

Conservation is covered in IV above (page 19).

The Panel noted that, since its last session, some work had been done on flowering and reproductive systems of a few tropical species (FDFR Ibadan 1975, Grison 1977). However, the effort devoted to such studies is still grossly inadequate in comparison with the number of species and the complete ignorance of most of them. The Panel reiterated its previous recommendation that research should be intensified and must be done in the tropics.

The Panel welcomed the revival of interest in an International Cooperative Programme for breeding Pinus caribaea, including seed orchards producing seed for international use, and noted that some finance might be forthcoming from private industry, through FAO's Industry Cooperative Programme. The Panel noted that further detailed discussion of the Programme would take place during the IUFRO Workshop in Brisbane, 4–7 April. The Panel considered that the Programme should be conceived in three successive stages, the results obtained in each stage being used as the basis for a decision whether to proceed to the next. The stages would be

1. Data collection. A maximum of 6 months' travel for a consultant specialised in breeding of Pinus caribaea.

2. Establishment and operation of a coordinating unit. Exchange of improved material for first generation seed orchards, mainly seed for seedling seed orchards.

3. Long-term breeding strategy. Including later generation breeding.

In some cases, special bilateral arrangements may be needed for seed to be produced in one country for use in another, following the example of Denmark, of which some of the Douglas Fir seed requirements will be produced in an orchard in France. Pollen contamination has been shown to be worse than expected in many orchards, a reason for seeking more isolated locations for seed orchards, even in a different country.

Countries should compile lists for each species of the seed orchards already in production, the quantities of seed collected and the amount of surplus seed available for export or of the deficit which must be imported.

The Panel noted that some provenances in the international trials had already demonstrated such consistent superiority in several different countries that bulk supplies of seed are already, or will shortly be, in demand. Seed of some provenances cannot be collected in bulk because of inadequate seeding in the natural range. Where seed is produced in quantity but is not available through commercial supplies or forest services, collection of bulk supplies may need to be done by research institutes.

The Panel noted that a flexible system of data storage and retrieval, including all aspects of tree improvement, had been devised in Denmark and accepted for use throughout Scandinavia. At Oxford INTFORPROV was in use for International Provenance Trials, but did not cover other aspects of tree improvement.

The Panel emphasised the need to expand training facilities in the new subject of Forest Genetic Resources. Training should be adapted to local needs and should include short practical courses in the field, as well as longer and more formal academic courses at universities. It is as important to train the technician as the professional.

The Panel welcomed the proposed change of title of one post in FAO's Forestry Department from Forestry Officer (Afforestation) to Forestry Officer (Genetic Resources and Tree Improvement), which reflects the importance which Forest Genetic Resources has increasingly assumed in the Department's Regular Programme over the past decade. At the same time it recognised that the increasing commitment for central coordination of the Global Programme, which results from the financial support of UNEP and possibly from future support from IBPGR, would need additional coordinating staff, which might be financed from Trust Funds.

VII. ACTION PROGRAMME 1978–79

On the assumption that the funds available for seed procurement under FAO's Regular Programme in 1978/79 would be the same as in 1976/77, i.e. US$ 45 000, the Panel recommended that it should be distributed as follows:

1. US$ 10 000 to the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales (INIF) in Mexico, for further exploration and collection of Mexican conifers and hardwoods.

2. US$ 3 000 to the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria, for further exploration and collection of tropical hardwoods in West Africa.

3. US$ 3 000 to the Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, for further exploration and collection of tropical hardwoods in West Africa.

4. US$ 15 000 to the Division of Forest Research, C.S.I.R.O. in Canberra, for further exploration and collection of the genus Eucalyptus and other genera in Australia, and for cooperative exploration and collection expeditions with countries in the East Indies.

5. US$ 5 000 to the Department of Forests, Papua New Guinea for further exploration and collection of species of Eucalyptus, Araucaria, Toona and Flindersia.

6. US$ 1 000 to the United States Forest Tree Seed Centre at Macon, for supply of seed to developing countries.

7. US$ 8 000 for contingencies, to other institutes as required.

The Panel noted with gratification the proposals of FAO's Forestry Department that the Regular Programme funds for Forest Genetic Resources in 1978/79 be substantially increased, as compared with 1976/77. It recommended that, in distributing such additional funds, FAO should give consideration to supporting the following:

1. Exploration/collection of Central American conifers and hardwoods by the Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford.

2. Additional exploration/collection of West African hardwoods by Forest Research Institute of Nigeria and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical.

3. Collection of Mediterranean conifers coordinated by Istituto Sperimentale per la Selvicoltura, Florence.

4. Additional exploration/collection of Australian species by Division of Forest Research, C.S.I.R.O., Canberra.

5. Additional exploration/collection of Papua New Guinea species by Department of Forests, Papua New Guinea.

6. Exploration/collection of Gmelina and other hardwoods, and of Himalayan conifers by the Indian Forest Service and the Danish/FAO Forest Tree Seed Centre.

7. Additional collections by the U.S. Forest Tree Seed Centre, Macon, for supply to developing countries.

8. International Surveys and assessment of provenance trials of Eucalyptus and other genera.

9. Training activities in all aspects of the exploration, collection, evaluation, conservation and utilization of forest genetic resources.

VIII. FUTURE OF THE PANEL

The Panel stressed the need for it to maintain its responsibilities for the central direction and coordination of the Global Programme on Forest Genetic Resources. Advice on specialised aspects, e.g. data storage and retrieval, long-term seed storage, could be provided by IUFRO Working Parties or ad hoc panels, but would not replace the global coordinating function, which only the Panel could fulfil.

The Panel noted that the persons appointed as national coordinators of forest genetic resources by a number of countries and listed in Forest Genetic Resources Information No.6, could play a valuable role in supplying progress reports to supplement the regional knowledge of the Panel Members.

IX. RELATED ACTIVITIES

1. Third World Consultation on Forest Tree Breeding

The Panel noted that the Consultation (Canberra, Australia, 21–26 March) would provide an opportunity to discuss forest genetic resources in a wider context. The first technical session would be devoted to this subject.

2. Training Courses

Denmark financed the FAO/DANIDA Training Course on Forest Seed Collection and Handling (Thailand, March/April 1975). A report including lecture notes has since been issued (FAO 1975). A further FAO/DANIDA Training Course on Savanna Afforestation was planned for Nigeria in February 1976 but had to be cancelled; the lecture notes were published in 1977.

3. Seed Collection Equipment

The Panel reiterated its previous recommendation that information on equipment for seed collection be summarised and published as soon as possible. It noted the current survey of seed equipment being carried out by Dr. Bonner for the IUFRO Working Party on Seed Problems, which is expected to include equipment for seed collection. If additional, more detailed, information is required, the Panel expressed the hope that the FAO/DANIDA Forest Tree Seed Centre would undertake the work. It recommended that the publication should include information on safety regulations.

4. Seed Production Areas

The Panel noted with satisfaction that a manual containing guidelines for seed production areas was to be written by Dr. J. Burley of the Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford, and is expected to be published in 1978.

5. Time and Place of Next Meeting

To be decided later. Possibilities are Rome in 1980 or the next IUFRO Congress in Japan in 1981.

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BURLEY, J. and STYLES, B.T. (Eds.) 1976 Tropical trees. Variation, breeding and conservation Academic Press.

CHAPERON, H. and QUILLET, G. 1977 Résultats des travaux sur le bouturage des Eucalyptus au Congo Brazzaville. Pap. 3rd World Consult. on For. Tree Breeding, Canberra (FO-FTB-77-4/9).

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DYSON, W.G. 1974 A note on the conservation of tree species in situ. Appendix 9, Report of the Third Session of FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources. FAO, Rome.

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