FAO's concern over the conservation and wise use of biological diversity emanate from Article 1 of its Constitution, “Functions of the Organization”, which i.a. states as follows: “The Organization shall promote and, where appropriate, recommend national and international action with respect to the conservation of natural resources and the adoption of improved methods of agricultural production”. In line with this mandate, and in recognition of the fact that sustainable development is the key to the conservation of biological diversity while at the same time conservation is an indispensable precondition for sustainable development, FAO has during the past four decades provided global leadership, guidance and assistance to Member Nations in activities related to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources in the fields of agriculture (including crop and livestock species), forestry (including trees, shrubs and wildlife species) and fisheries.
In the mid 1980's, an informal Working Group on Biological Diversity was formed under the umbrella of FAO's Inter-Departmental Working Group on Environment and Energy, with an overall mandate to strengthen action to help ensure the conservation in and ex situ of the world's biological diversity and its wise use in support of sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries. In order to further strengthen the integration of existing, sectoral programmes related to biological diversity of crops and other agricultural plants, domestic animals, forest species, wildlife and fish, and to provide a formal contact point with other organizations with regard to these programme areas, the Group was established as an official, inter-Departmental Sub-Group of the IDWG on Environment and Energy in 1989. (This IDWG has later changed name and is now called IDWG on Environment and Sustainable Development).
The yearly Report of the Forestry Department to the Sub-Group on progress and programmes carried out in the field of forestry and protected area management in 1991, is reproduced below.
FORESTRY DEPARTMENTS PROGRESS REPORT
Activities of the Forestry Department focused largely on collaboration with national institutes through direct contact, correspondence, contractual agreements, dissemination of information and facilitation of exchange of germplasm. Collaboration and coordination of activities were also continued with other international institutes active in the field, such as Unesco and IUCN; and with regional and sub-regional groupings such as CILSS.
(i) International coordination, collaboration at international level
The FAO Committee on Forest Development in the Tropics, in its 10th Session in December 1991, focused on sustainable management of the tropical forest, a subject of direct and major relevance to the issue of genetic conservation. The recommendations of the Committee provide strong support for future work of the Department in this field.
The 10th World Forestry Congress, attended by more than 2,500 foresters and forestry decision makers from 136 countries, was convened under the theme “Forests, a Heritage for the Future”. In addition to a great number of highly relevant invited and voluntary papers published and distributed prior to the congress, the congress elaborated the Paris Declaration, a solemn appeal to the public at large, political leaders and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for increased attention to the conservation and sustainable, multipurpose use of forest resources for present-day and future benefit to humankind.
The Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) took place in Geneva in September 1992, where first agreements for groups of species under the Convention were finalized by range states.
Throughout the year, preparations for UNCED/Rio received top priority. The Forestry Department was intimately involved in the work of the Working Group on Forestry, and also provided substantial inputs to those on Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Climate Change and Coastal Ecosystems, all related to the issue of biological diversity and its sustainable use.
Following a Ministerial Conference on Forest Protection in Europe in December 1990, work on a European network on forest genetic resources was initiated in 1991, with the aim of intensifying work in this field through species networks and increased collaboration between the countries. FAO's Forestry Department has supported the work carried out to date, in preparation of the 2nd Ministerial Conference to be held in April 1993.
(ii) Collaboration with national institutes in in and ex situ conservation
Through RP contributions to institutes in Indonesia, Brazil and Peru, FAO supported the establishment of pilot in situ conservation areas and research underpinning such conservation efforts. Similar contracts to support exploration and the collection of reproductive materials of forest trees and shrubs for research and conservation purposes, were established with China, Chile, Peru and Turkey; and, through collaboration with the Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, CTFT (France), with a number of West African countries. Collaboration with and contributions to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, CSIRO (Australia) and the DANIDA Forest Tree Seed Centre, were specifically aimed at facilitating the availability and provision of seed and other reproductive materials to developing countries.
The Latin American Technical Cooperation Network on National Parks, Other Protected Areas and Wildlife, was active throughout the period under review and an International Workshop on Management of Biosphere Reserves was held in Mexico under its auspices in November 1991.
(iii) Development of methodologies, dissemination of information
Work related to in situ conservation included the development of guidelines for the compatibilization of forest management for productive purposes with the conservation in situ of forest genetic resources. The results, which also will include a number of case studies, will be published in an FAO Forestry Paper in 1992. The main technical points of the study were summarized in Unasylva 169, an issue focused on sustainability.
In ex situ conservation, work concentrated on the production of guidelines on the role of ex situ conservation in long-lived, outcrossing forest species, in collaboration with the National Forest Seed Centre in Canada, with inputs from a great number of individuals and institutes, worldwide. Results are expected to be published in late 1992. The Forestry Department also collaborated with IBPGR and IUCN in the production on a Handbook for Seed Collectors, in which due attention is given to the strategies and methodologies for the collection of forest tree species. The FAO Forestry Paper, “A Guide to Forest Seed Handling”, was published in French and Spanish (already available in English).
The French language version of FAO Conservation Guide no. 17, “Natural Parks Planning: a manual and annotated examples”, was published.
Issue number 19 of the annual Newsletter, “Forest Genetic Resources Information”, available in English, French and Spanish, was published and distributed in close to 3,000 copies.
(iv) Miscellaneous
An André Meyer Fellowship was awarded in the field of Biotechnologies in Forest Tree Improvement. The subject is closely linked also to genetic conservation issues.
