The above meeting was held in Rome, Italy from 8 to 11 December 1981 (for list of Panel members, see below). All 15 Members of the Panel attended the meeting; in addition, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
The objectives of the FAO Panel, established in 1968, are to:" Help plan and coordinate FAO's efforts to explore, utilize and conserve the gene resources of forest trees, help prepare a detailed short-term programme and a draft long-term programme for action in the field of forest genetic resources, and provide information to Member Governments.
During its Fifth Session, the Panel updated and critically reviewed the list of priorities for action in the field of forest genetic resources by region, species and operation drawn up during its Fourth Session in 1977. It also passed a number of specific recommendations related to present and future priorities in this field. The need was repeatedly stressed to intensify activities at a global scale in exploration, collection, conservation and evaluation of forest genetic resources, and to expand present activities to more fully meet existing needs in firewood species and in species of actual or potential socio-economic importance in agriculture and rural development.
The Report on the Fifth Session of the Panel will be available in early 1983.
