by
Lars Graudal
Forest Resources Division
Forestry Department 1
INTRODUCTION
The present note highlights some recent activities in the forest genetic resources field. It complements the note published by Palmberg in Forest Genetic Resources Information No. 10 (1981) (see also FAO 1969–1988, FAO 1973–1987).
BACKGROUND
Forest Genetic Resources became an official working programme of FAO in 1968 with the establishment of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources following the recommendations of the Fourteenth Session of the FAO Conference in November 1967.
The recommendation was based on a recognition that the reserves of genetic variation stored in natural forests and woodlands had been or were being displaced on an increasing scale, while efforts to explore and collect forest genetic resources were, at a global level, considered inadequate.
The role of the Panel of Experts is to help plan and coordinate FAO's efforts to explore, collect, utilize and conserve the gene resources of forest trees. Over the years, the Panel has defined priorities by region, species and operation in a global programme for improved use of forest genetic resources (see e.g. FAO 1969–1988).
Although work started 20 years ago and although much has been done, the rate of depletion and destruction of forests makes continued and increased efforts of even higher importance today.
Worldwide concern for the conservation and wise utilization of genetic resources of plants is reflected in the creation of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, which has, to date, met twice FAO (1985a, 1987a). The main purpose of the Commission is to ensure the development, strengthening and monitoring of a global work system for plant genetic resources on a global scale. Among the recommendations from the first session of the Commission was that increased attention and resources be devoted to research on, and conservation of, genetic diversity both in and ex situ.
More recently the launching of FAO's Tropical Forestry Action Plan, which is an overall, conceptual framework for action in the field of tropical forestry, has identified the conservation of tropical forest ecosystems as one of five priority areas, including ecosystem conservation and in situ conservation of plant and animal genetic resources (FAO 1985b).
THE GOAL
The overall goal of FAO and its Forestry Department, is to assist member countries in meeting the basic needs of, and securing general progress for, rural communities. In line with this policy, on-going genetic resources programmes are concentrating on assistance to the rural poor, and aim at promoting the use of well-adapted but robust genetic material suitable for village woodlots, shelterbelts, food, fodder, land stabilization and rehabilitation, etc. Top priority is given to the conservation and evaluation of existing stands of shrubs and trees which are presently in danger of extinction or genetic depletion but whose adaptation to prevailing environmental conditions and acceptability to local populations are unquestioned; and to the establishment of systematic species and provenance trials in which local and introduced species for specified end uses, can be compared under uniform management systems.
EXPLORATION & COLLECTION: SEED PROCUREMENT
The provision of seed of good physiological and genetic quality is basic to any programme of reafforestation or tree planting.
The cost of seed is only a small fraction of the total cost of establishing and managing tree plantations, and provision of seed of the right source need not cost more than provision of seed from the wrong source. Assistance in advice on seed procurement and handling is therefore one of the major forms of assistance given to developing countries in the forest genetic resources field, with a view also to increase know-how and improve national facilities, leading to self-sufficiency in seed at national and local levels.
From the beginning, when forest genetic resources was first acknowledged as being of importance and the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources was established (1968), the policy of FAO's Forestry Department has been to work through national institutes: support in various forms is given to already on-going or planned work at the national level, at the same time also drawing attention to global and regional priorities. Modest financial support has been given to a range of institutes over the past 20 years. Funding has come from FAO's Regular Programme or from Trust Funds operated by the Forestry Department (e.g. UNEP; the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources-IBPGR; UNDP; the Government of France).
In the early years, in line with prevailing needs, support was mainly given to exploration and collection of industrial species, e.g. Central American pines, Mexican pines, North American conifers, Mediterranean conifers, Australasian eucalypts, and tropical timber hardwoods. As the use of industrial wood in the tropics is far outweighed by the use of fuelwood and wood for other purposes, a change of emphasis towards support to multipurpose woody species took place in the mid 1970's, including in the programme genera like Acacia, Casuarina, Prosopis, Atriplex, etc.
The seed and other propagating materials collected by the countries under this global seed programme coordinated by FAO's Forestry Department, is generally temporarily stored by the country where the collection has been made or, if no storage facilities exist or the country is for other reasons not able to handle the seed, in another seed centre proposed by FAO and acceptable to the cooperating countries. The centre which stores the seed will distribute it in accordance with instructions from FAO's Forestry Department (and based on the specific needs expressed by member countries) for: (i) evaluation (= statistically sound field trials for determining variation within and between species, genotype x environment interactions and local adaptability and acceptability, ultimately leading to the possibility of choosing the right species and the right seed source for each end use and environment); (ii) conservation (generally, ex situ conservation stands in a range of countries); and (iii) seed production/selection stands of species and provenances of proven value for the region, country or area in question.
EVALUATION: INTERNATIONAL PROVENANCE TRIALS
Collection of seed is of scarce value if the seedlots are not tested and evaluated in the field.
Among international provenance trials for evaluation, which have been initiated with FAO assistance, the following examples can be mentioned: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. microtheca, E. urophylla; Cedrela spp.; Acacia aneura, A. mangium; Central American pines including Pinus patula and P. oocarpa; Gmelina arborea; Araucaria spp., Central American semi-arid zone hardwood species; arid and semi-arid zone Acacia and Prosopis species from Asia, Near East, Africa, Latin America; Liquidambar styraciflua, and others (cf. Forest Genetic Resources Information No. 10–16).
Ideally, work in forest genetic resources follows the logical sequence of botanical and genecological exploration; collection for evaluation and evaluation; utilization, collection for conservation; and conservation ex and in situ. Because of pressures on existing resources from increasing human populations and from domestic animals, stands of potential importance are often under threat of genetic depletion or extinction even before results on their genetic characteristics and variation are at hand; thus, in practice many of the “steps” overlap, and especially conservation activities need to be carried out in parallel with all the other activities.
Results from comprehensive provenance trials are of little value if the proven provenances have disappeared when the results are known. Therefore, it is important, in all provenance collections, to:
collect as much reproductive material as possible from any stands likely to be lost in the near future (conservation ex situ);
take steps for safeguarding and sustainably managing all stands from which provenance collections are made, at least until such a time when variation patterns and the potential value of the various provenances are known (conservation in situ).
CONSERVATION
Genetic conservation activities play a major role in the programmes aimed at making fuller use of existing genetic resources.
An example of FAO activities in this field is the FAO/UNEP Project on Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources, which was started in 1976 (FAO 1985c).
The objectives of the project were:
To reinforce and accelerate existing programmes of seed collection of important species and populations for conservation ex situ.
To establish pilot ex situ conservation stands of two species of tropical pines and two species of eucalypts in selected developing countries.
To develop pilot projects for in situ conservation.
To disseminate information on conservation of forest genetic resources, including information on endangered populations and species and on methods of conservation.
The project rendered modest financial assistance to several institutes engaged in seed collection, with main emphasis on collection of tropical pine and eucalypt provenances (based on results from preliminary exploration and evaluation) for ex situ conservation stands.
Within the framework of the project, a number of ex situ conservation stands of several provenances of the species included (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, Pinus oocarpa, P. caribaea), were established in 7 countries (Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo, Zambia, Kenya, India, and Thailand); and 2 in situ conservation reserves of Baikiaea plurijuga were demarcated in Zambia.
Based on case studies prepared by three countries, Cameroon, Malaysia and Peru, which summarized the current status, problems and opportunities for in situ conservation of 20 important woody species in each country, a follow-up FAO/UNEP project was carried out 1985–1988 (see Roche & Dourojeanni 1984, Forest Genetic Resources Information 14 and 15).
In situ conservation activities of Prosopis cineraria, are also supported in PDR Yemen (Cossalter 1985).
In addition, pilot research programmes for determining the breeding systems, phenology and management requirements of a number of tropical species are underway in collaboration with institutes in Brazil, Cameroon, Malaysia and Peru, for execution by institutes in these countries. Such programmes are needed to enable choice of conservation strategies and management regimes, as these will depend on the characteristics of the species and the ecosystems; on intra-specific variation and variation patterns; breeding systems, etc.
DRY AREAS
Special attention has been devoted, during the past 8 years, to arid zones through the FAO Project on Genetic Resources of Tree Species for the Improvement of Rural Living in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas (see Forest Genetic Resources Information 10, 12 and 13).
This project was initiated by FAO's Forestry Department in 1979. Up to 1985, financial support was received from IBPGR and, indirectly - through IBPGR - from UNEP. The project has been continued beyond 1985, using FAO Regular Programme funding (see article “Final Report on the FAO/IBPGR/UNEP project on Genetic Resources of Arid and Semi-Arid Zone Arboreal Species for the Improvement of Rural Living” in this issue of FGRI).
The main purposes of the project have been to act as a catalyst for gathering genetic information on arid and semi-arid zone species, and to aid countries in the practical application of any results which may become available from it.
Trials are now established in 17 countries, using standard design and evaluation schedules for comparability and maximum information.
Seed will continue to be distributed for evaluation trials in a range of environmental conditions, using - to the extent possible - the standardized design and the measurement schedules already used to date.
MULTIPURPOSE SPECIES AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
The increased emphasis by countries and donors on fuelwood and multi-purpose species for agroforestry has opened up a whole new range of species in which little is known about intraspecific genetic variation. There is, therefore, an urgent need to extend the operations of exploration, seed collection, evaluation and conservation of genetic resources which have been carried out successfully for a limited range of conifers, eucalypts and dry area Acacia and Prosopis spp., to a much wider range of genera, species and populations. As far as possible, internationally accepted standard methods for assessing trials should be used.
On these lines, IUFRO and FAO, with support from several other international organizations, have organized a series of workshops dealing with tropical forestry research issues covering tropical Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The first workshop was held in Kandy, Sri Lanka, in July 1984 and produced a “Blueprint for Action” for tropical Asia, covering forest research and development possibilities and priorities in the region, submitted for consideration of national institutions and donors (IUFRO 1984).
Two Workshops covering the Sahelian and North Sudanian Zones of Africa, took place in Nairobi in January 1986 and February 1987 (IUFRO 1986, 1987). A third Workshop was held in Huaraz, Peru, in July 1987 (IUFRO 1988).
One of the main priorities for action emerging from discussions in all Workshops, was forest genetic resources.
As a follow-up to the priorities defined by the countries in this field, FAO has initiated a sub-regional project on Genetic Resources of Multipurpose Woody Species, in the Sahelian and Northern Sudanian Zones of Africa, with the help of French funds in trust. Another, similar sub-regional FAO/UNDP project, is about to be started in four countries in South Asia.
The main activities of these projects are to:
review and help coordinate on-going activities in the field of forest genetic resources at national and sub-regional level, including harmonization of donor inputs for maximum impact;
plan, initiate and technically support activities in the field of forest genetic resources, and help channel funds towards these by (i) stimulating cooperation between research and development agencies; (ii) assisting countries in technical training and in the formulation of new projects (national, bilateral, multilateral); (iii) drawing the attention of the international community to the urgent needs in this field; and (iv) facilitating the dissemination of information and germplasm.
Seed procurement does not finish with the results of successful evaluation trials. Countries will wish to obtain larger quantities of seed of the populations identified as best adapted to their conditions, and to establish their own seed stands for future seed production (for which plots in species/provenance trials are too small and have a genetic base which is too narrow for large-scale seed production). Procurement of “semi-bulk” quantities of seed of proven species and provenances, for the establishment of conservation/seed stands, as already started for some important tropical pines and eucalypts; and some Acacia and Prosopis species, is an essential phase in the development of new and improved forest resources. It must be continued and expanded. Further, each country with substantial planting programmes should have a forest seed centre with adequate facilities for collection, distribution and storage, so that it can ensure an efficient seed service to its own seed users and also contribute to international seed exchange. Where appropriate, external support for the establishment of national seed centres constitutes an economically and socially effective use of aid funds, and projects in this field are being actively supported by FAO.
REFERENCES
Cossalter, C. 1985 Propositions pour la conservation des ressources génétiques de Prosopis cineraria en Republique Democratique et Populaire du Yemen. CTFT/FAO. FAO, Rome. (30 pp. + annex 1–13). (available also in Arabic).
FAO 1969–1988 Reports of Sessions 1–6 of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources. FO:FGR/1–6/Rep. FAO, Rome. (E, F, S, 1)
FAO 1973–1987 Forest Genetic Resources Information No. 1–15. FAO, Rome. (E, F, S)
FAO 1985a Report of the First Session of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources. CPGR/85/Rep. FAO, Rome. (12 pp.). (E, F, S)
FAO 1985b Tropical Forestry Action Plan. Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics. FAO, Rome. (159 pp.). (E, F, S)
FAO 1985c FAO/UNEP Project on the Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources. Final Report. FAO, Rome. (171 pp.). (E, F)
FAO 1985d Forest Tree Improvement. Forestry Paper 20. FAO, Rome. (271 pp.). (E, F, S)
FAO 1985e A Guide to Forest Seed Handling. Forestry Paper 20/2. FAO, Rome. (376 pp.).
FAO 1987a Report on the Second Session of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources. CPGR/87/Rep. FAO, Rome. (32 pp.). (E, F, S)
FAO 1987b Data Book on Endangered Tree and Shrub Species and Provenances. FAO Forestry Paper 77. FAO, Rome. (534 pp.).
FAO 1988 Final Report on the FAO/IBPGR/UNEP project on Genetic Resources of Arid and Semi-Arid Zone Arboreal Species for the Improvement of Rural Living. FAO, Rome (unpublished). (19 pp.).
IUFRO 1984 Increasing Productivity of Multipurpose Tree Species: A Blueprint for Action. IUFRO Planning Workshop for Asia, Kandy, Sri Lanka, July 16–28, 1984, compiled by K.R. Shea and L.W. Carlson. IUFRO, Vienna. (99 pp.). (E, F)
IUFRO 1986 Increasing Productivity of Multipurpose Lands. Eds. L.W. Carlson and K.R. Shea. IUFRO Research Planning Workshop for Africa: Sahelian and North Sudanian Zones, Nairobi, Kenya, January 1986. IUFRO, Vienna. (333 pp.). (E, F)
IUFRO 1987 Tree improvement and silvo-pastoral management in Sahelian and North Sudanian Africa; problems needs and research proposals. Compiled by C. Cossalter, D.E. Iyamabo, S.L. Krugman and O. Fugalli. Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya, February 1987; “Nairobi II”. IUFRO, Vienna. (196 pp.).
IUFRO 1988 El rol de las especies forestales de uso múltiple en la vida de las comunidades campesinas. Report on a Research Planning Workshop in Latin America, Huaraz, Perú, July 1987. IUFRO, Vienna, In press. (S)
Palmberg, C. 1981 A Vital Fuelwood Genepool is in Danger. Unasylva 33(133):22–30. FAO, Rome.
Palmberg, C. 1986 Selection and genetic improvement of indigenous and exotic multi-purpose tree species for dry zones. Agroforestry Systems 4:121–127. Junk Publishers, Netherlands.
Palmberg, C. 1987 Conservation of Genetic Resources of Woody Species. Simposio sobre Silvicultura y Mejoramiento Genético, Paper prepared for CIEF, Buenos Aires (available from FAO, Rome). (20 pp.).
Palmberg, C. and Esquinas A., J.T. 1988 The role of international organizations in the Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources, with special reference to forestry and the UN-system. Paper prepared for the Symposium on Conservation of Genetic Diversity, Davis California, July 1988. FAO, Rome.
Roche, L. & Dourojeanni, M.J.: 1984 A Guide to in situ conservation of genetic resources of tropical woody species. FORGEN/MISC/84/2. FAO, Rome. (pp. 196). (E, F, S)
1 E = available in English
F = available in French
S = available in Spanish
