by
Arnaldo Alvarez Brito
Deputy Director, Forest Research Institute
Calle 174 # 1723
Pto Siboney, Municipio Playa
La Habana, Cuba
Although some exotic tree species were introduced into Cuba prior to 1959 for evaluation and use especially for the production of wood (notably Swietenia macrophylla, Casuarina equisetifolia, some Eucalyptus species), it was not until the mid 1960s that a systematically planned and scientifically based forest genetic resources programme was initiated in the country. This development was supported by the creation of a Forest Research Institute within the framework of the Ministry of Forestry.
Work in the forest genetic resources field is presently organized in two main, interrelated and complementary technical fields: the conservation of genetic resources and the genetic improvement of forest trees.
Genetic conservation activities carried out by the Forest Research Institute, cover both native and introduced forest tree species of actual or potential economic value. The work is closely linked with the protection of forest ecosystems in the country and the conservation of the biological diversity they contain.
In this context, the Forest Research Institute has participated in the development of a nation-wide Scientific and Technical Biotechnology Programme, carried out under the overall leadership of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MSTE), which focuses on three major areas: (i) review and updating of legal instruments in support of programmes aimed at the conservation of forest genetic resources; (ii) the creation of a computerized data system for the recording and monitoring of all aspects of conservation and development of forest genetic resources in the country and (iii) the in situ and ex situ conservation of forest tree species, populations, sub-populations and individuals, with special reference to native species endangered with extinction or genetic depletion.
Within the framework of the above Programme, the Forest Research Institute is presently involved in two projects related to the conservation and wise use of forest genetic resources, supported at Ministerial level: the creation of a national data base, as outlined above, and the documentation of information on flowering and seed production, and the elaboration of protocols of information on seed and fruit handling and management for native, endangered tree species.
In the field of tree improvement, work of the Forest Research Institute is focused on the refinement of practices for seed collection, treatment and handling of tree species of commercial value; determination of sub-populations (provenances) adapted to given areas (species/provenance x site matching); selection of species suited for afforestation in marginal areas; and enhancement of the value of forests through the use genetically improved reproductive materials of species providing multiple products, such as e.g. wood and resin, including also the use of new biotechnologies and genetic engineering.
In this context, the Forest Research Institute is involved in a national programme on integrated mountain development developed within the framework of the Scientific and Technical Biotechnology Project of the MSTE mentioned above, which includes the genetic improvement of 10 native tree species (among which are four Cuban native pine species, Cedrela odorata, Hibiscus elatus, Swietenia spp. and Casuarina equisetifolia); the selection of species for marginal sites, such as the wetlands of Ciénaga de Zapata in the north of the Matanzas and the Ciego de Avila areas, the serpentine savanna areas in the central parts of the country, and the arid, xerophytic areas south of Guantánamo; the selection of species and provenances suitable i.a. for the reforestation in the areas Pinar del Río, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín and Granma; and investigation on the management and treatment of fruits and seeds of more than one dozen native tree species.
Main results of work by the Forest Research Institute in the tree improvement field include the production of improved seed for reforestation programmes of Pinus caribaea and Hibiscus elatus; the selection and use of Melaleuca leucodendron and Gmelina arborea in the wetland areas, and of Prosopis juliflora in the drylands of Guantánamo; the evaluation and selection of provenances of Pinus caribaea, P. tropicalis, P. maestrensis and P. cubensis for reforestation programmes in Pinar del Río, the serpentine savanna areas in central Cuba, the Sierra Maestra and Pinares de Mayarí; provenance selection of Hibiscus elatus and Swietenia macrophylla; and protocols for the handling of seeds and fruits of some 20 forest tree species, including also the adaptation and use of ISTA Rules for seed testing and certification purposes in these species.
An especially important achievement in the mutually compatible and complementary fields of genetic conservation and forest tree improvement, has been the establishment of more than 600 hectares of experimental areas in which, while evaluating the behaviour and adaptation of the material under trial mainly for productive purposes, genetic resources of more than 100 tree species and 120 provenances are also maintained and conserved ex situ. The importance of this work transcends national borders, and is seen as a contribution of Cuba to the conservation of tropical forest resources and the biological diversity they contain, in accordance with the agreements and commitments made by the country at the UNCED Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.
POST SCRIPTUM BY THE EDITOR
The Forest Research Institute of Cuba will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. The institute was originally created within the framework of an FAO/Cuban Government collaborative project on forestry research and development. The internationally acknowledged research institute has, over the years, expanded its programmes while remaining flexible and adapting them to emerging new needs, making use of both traditional and new technologies. The work of the Forest Research Institute is executed with the support of its seven experimental stations. Results and programmes are regularly reported upon in the journal, “Baracoa”, published by and available from the Institute.
FAO takes this opportunity of extending its congratulations at the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Institute.
Forest Genetic Resources No. 22. FAO, Rome (1994)
Manuscript received June 1994. Original Spanish
