EX SITU GENE CONSERVATION OF NATIVE TREE SPECIES IN COLOMBIA

by

J.A. Wright
Smurfit Cartón de Colombia
Apdo. Aéreo 6574, Cali
Colombia

INTRODUCTION

Since 1971, more than 67 endemic tree species have been conserved in ex situ planting by Smurfit Carton de Colombia. This constitutes the largest such undertaking in Colombia. Both vulnerable species (11) and rare/endangered species (5) have been included in these plantings. In all cases, growth and survival have been evaluated.

SPECIES SELECTION AND TRIAL ESTABLISHMENT

Species were selected on the basis of seed availability as well as local knowledge concerning utilization value and the likely need for gene conservation. Until recently, there was no reference in the literature indicating the tree species in Colombia that were threatened or endangered. It is probable that provenances of some species have become extinct but there is no record of a species having become extinct, yet. New trials are planted each year which include endemic species and an effort is made to include those for which gene conservation is a priority.

The trials have normally been established as 36 tree blocks. The geographic and environmental conditions of these trials are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Details of geographic and environmental conditions for sites of ex situ conservation stands of native tree species in Colombia

Nursery management including inoculation with soil containing mycorrhizae is of high quality. For certain species, seed germination is very poor (0–5 %) and the production of plants in nursery is costly. Fertilization and weed control in the trials is undertaken to promote rapid growth. Growth and survival are evaluated in these trials and have been previously summarized (Endo, 1992; Urrego, 1989; Ladrach, 1987, 1984, 1983; Velez, 1982). More recently, block plantings of one hectare or larger have been established for seven species. This will allow a larger proportion of the genetic variation to be conserved.

The species in Table 2 have been identified by local authorities. Common names are those frequently used in the Andean region of Colombia.

Table 2. List of endemic species planted in Smurfit Carton de Colombia trial planting. Endangered (E), vulnarable (V) and rare (R) species are shown in “status” column (see text below for definitions)

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, 1978) has devised a classification system to denote the degree of threat to a species. The categories are:

Ex (extinct): not found after repeated searches.

E (endangered): in danger of extinction, survival unlikely if causal factors continue.

V (vulnerable): likely to move into the endangered category if causal factors continue.

R (rare): small populations that are not currently endangered or vulnerable but that are at risk.

T (threatened): species or provenances for which there is insufficient information to say which of the four categories above is appropriate.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

All of the native species planted by Smurfit Carton de Colombia in ex situ conservation stands are listed in Table 2. The category of threat to a species has been noted with the appropriate reference.

The trial plots can be used to obtain information of the genetic structure of the population as well as to conserve the genetic variation of each population as intact as possible. The collection of seed for seedling production with the objective of reintroduction must be considered as a priority for the near term. Future activity will be concentrated on those species which in Colombia are endangered, vulnerable, rare and threatened.

CONCLUSION

There has been insufficient effort in Colombia at conservation of native forest tree species. For ex situ conservation, private companies including Smurfit Carton de Colombia have made an impressive contribution. Attempts at ex situ conservation by government or NGO's in Colombia has not been done to date or is undocumented.

REFERENCES

Endo, M. (1992). Resultados del primer ano del proyecto de la Costa Norte en Monterrubio y San Sebastian. Smurfit Carton de Cobmbia, Cali, Informe De Investigacion No. 143, 21 pp.

FAO. (1986). Databook on endangered tree and shrub species and provenances. Forestry Paper 77. Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome, Italy.

FAO. (1985). Report of the Sixth Session of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources. Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome, Italy. FO:FGR/5/Repon.

FAO. (1984). A Guide to in situ conservation of genetic resources for tropical woody species. Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome, Italy. FORGEN/Misc:/84/2

FAO (1981). Report of the Fifth Session of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources. Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome, Italy.

IUCN. (1978). Categories, objectives and criteria for the protected areas. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Gland, Switzerland.

Ladrach, W.E. (1987). Crecimiento del arboretum de Guachicona al finalizar los ocho os de la plantacion de 1977 y los anos de las plantaciones de 1977, 1980 y 1981. Informe De Investigacion, Smurfit Canon de Colombia, Cali, No. 112, 9 pp.

Ladrach, W.E. (1984). Crecimiento del arboretum de Restrepo al finalizar ocho anos. Informe De Investigacion, Smurfit Carton de Cobmbia, Cali, No. 97, 10 pp.

Ladrach, W.E. (1983). Arboretum de Chupillauta al finalizar diez años de crecimiento. Informe De Investigacion; Smurfit Carton de Cobmbia, Cali, No. 82, 8 W

Palmberg, C. (1987). Conservation of genetic resources of woody species. In:‘Simposio sobre silvicultura y mejoramiento genetico de especies forestales’. Buenos Aires, Argentina, April, 1987. Centro de Investigaciones y Experiencias Forestales, Buenos Aires.

Urrego, J.B. (1989). Crecimiento de las especies de los arboretum San Jose y Salinas, Cauca, y Guachicona, Valle al finalizar los cinco anos. Informe De Investigacion, Smurfit Carton de Colombia, Cali, No. 124, 8 W

Velez, E. (1982). Crecimiento de las especies en el arboretum de Salinas al finalizar el tercer año. Informe De Investigacion, Smurfit Carton de Colombia, Cali, No. 79, 4 pp.

Forest Genetic Resources No. 22 FAO, Rome (1994)
Manuscript received May 1994