Forests are the world’s most important and most valuable renewable natural resource and also repositories of terrestrial biological diversity. This resource is in imminent danger due to adverse abiotic and biotic stresses resulting from urban expansion, infrastructural development, agriculture and global warming (Bawa and Dayanandan 1998; Brown and Pearce 1994; Stedman-Edwards 1998). Since forests are long-living, out-breeding, generally highly heterogeneous and found in variable environments, they have developed complex mechanisms to maintain high intraspecific diversity. It is well recognized that genetic variation is essential for species to evolve and adapt to changing environmental conditions. The sustained ability of forest trees to provide goods and services thus depends on the maintenance and management of forest genetic resources (FGR). Despite the enormous threats, there have been limited concentrated efforts to address the conservation concerns of forest trees. India, for example, though being an acknowledged leader in conservation of crop genetic resources, has no systematic programme for conservation of FGR. Among others, critical information on the status, threats and extent and distribution of genetic diversity are required for planning effective conservation strategies. Though the basic principles of conservation of FGR are conceptually rooted in our understanding of crop genetic resources, the challenge lies in breaking free from this legacy and formulation of specific protocols that suit tree species.
