BACKGROUND
The Near East region is characterized by a wide variety of climatic and geographic environments. On one extreme the region is differentiated by high mountain ridges receiving more than 1000 mm precipitation annually, and on the other extreme by the deserts and semi-deserts with an annual precipitation of less than 200 mm. These features, together with the long history of human settlement, have had a profound effect on the biological diversity in this region. A wide range of ecosystems, including forest ecosystems, can be found. These forests and woodlands play a fundamental role in soil, water and environmental conservation, and are also important for the provision of many basic products and services. A considerable amount of the commercialized fruit and nut trees, for example, originate from this region. Many of their wild relatives (e.g. wild pear, wild pistachio and wild olive) can still be found in their natural environment, serving as a valuable genetic base. Coordinated research and protection efforts are already underway in some Central Asian countries towards the conservation of the genetic diversity of wild fruit and forest tree species.

However, due to overexploitation, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, overgrazing and forest fires, these resources are highly degraded throughout the region. Although several countries have put considerable efforts in conservation actions and the awareness of the need to act is growing, the focus is mainly on ecosystem conservation. Much less attention has been paid so far to the issue of conservation and sustainable use of the forest genetic resources (FGR).

INTRODUCTION
In recognition of the importance and the alarming status of the forest genetic resources in the Near East, IPGRI's Global Forest Genetic Resources Program expanded its activities to this region in the beginning of 1998. The objectives of the FGR research program in Central-West Asia and North Africa are (1) to strengthen existing, or promote the establishment of, national Programs on Forest Genetic Resources, and (2) to promote the development of conservation and sustainable use strategies for FGR.

Since the experiences with FGR conservation are limited in the Near East, IPGRI decided to focus its collaboration on two pilot countries. Syria was selected, because of the country's request for technical assistance and need for information on its FGR in order to improve its efforts in afforestation and reforestation. Given Lebanon's concern and active involvement in the conservation of the country's forest resources, this country was chosen as second pilot country.

Forest Genetic Resources Workshops
Priority setting for FGR conservation and use is essential for the efficient allocation of limited resources of time, funds and personnel. Ideally, this priority setting should be done by all stakeholders to ensure optimal support and cooperation. Therefore, IPGRI contributed to the organization of two workshops, respectively in Lebanon and in Syria, on priority setting for FGR research activities, in 1998. The objectives of these workshops were: 1) to identify, and discuss with, relevant national partners, 2) to assist them in the selection of priority species and 3) to help develop a research framework for the conservation and sustainable use of FGR.

In total 28 participants attended the two workshops, representing a broad range of national organizations and institutes involved in forestry or forest related areas. In the first session the participants expressed the need for, and their strong interest in, information collection and management on FGR. This need for better information is linked with the increasing efforts towards the conservation and sustainable and management of forests. Although the current conservation activities focus on ecosystem level rather than species level, there is also an increasing interest in a more targeted, species oriented approach for the benefit of rural communities and farmers, and national forest services.

Selecting priority species
In the following session the participants discussed on how to select priority species. A set of possible selection criteria was identified and proposed (see Figure 1). Of this set, the participants considered the actual and potential socio-economic value, the ecological value and the conservation status as the most important criteria. The next issue was how to quantify these criteria. After discussing various options, it was decided to give each criteria a code, corresponding to its value or impact on the species. For the socio-economical and ecological criteria a code from 1 (very low value) to 5 (very high value) was given. For coding threats, a similar ranking from 1 (save) to 5 (risk for extinction) was given. Each participant provided information and quantified the criteria for each species on expert's opinion basis, followed by a discussion on the preferences and final agreement. In each countries six priority species were selected, based on their total score (Table 1).

Developing a research framework
In order to develop strategies for the conservation and use of FGR, (including in situ conservation methods, ex situ conservation techniques or an appropriate combination of both), specific information about the target species and its environment is needed. The participants made an assessment of the availability of information important for the conservation of each priority species' genetic resources. For most species relevant information is partly if not completely missing, including scarcity of 1) data on the distribution and characteristics of the species and its populations, 2) information on the uses of and threat to the species, and data on their socio-economic value, and 3) information on the genetic diversity patterns of the species and the processes affecting these patterns. These gaps in information were translated into research activities proposals. There was a general consensus among the participants that priority should be given to those activities that would support the development of strategies supporting FGR conservation and use. At this stage a research framework for priority species was proposed. The research framework concentrated on three different study areas, i.e. (a) eco-geographical surveys, (b) use and threat assessments and (c) genetic diversity studies (Figure 2). Such a research framework should facilitate better linkages between the various research activities, allow a continuously monitoring of these activities and enhance continuing information flow. The participants agreed that to focus their efforts, future activities on the conservation and use of FGR should follow such a framework. They also agreed that the framework could facilitate linkages between the different research disciplines (forest ecology, socio-economics and plant genetics), thus enhancing a multidisciplinary approach.

Based on the outcome of the workshops, workplans were developed for four priority species, i.e. Pinus brutia and Pistacia atlantica in Syria, and Ceratonia siliqua and Pinus pinea in Lebanon.