european forest genetic resources programme
After the Strasbourg Conference (1990), a follow-up committee consisting of four experts from Finland, France, Poland and Portugal was established to propose how to implement Strasbourg Resolution 2 (Conservation of forest genetic resources). The committee carried out its work with the help of several scientists from other European countries and the Forestry Department of FAO, Bioversity International (then International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, IPGRI) and the European Commission during 1991-1993.
The conservation of forest genetic resources is the responsibility of individual countries. However, Strasbourg Resolution 2 also called for establishment of a functional, but voluntary instrument of international collaboration to support countries in their efforts. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the distribution ranges and gene-ecological zones of forest trees do not respect national borders. Secondly, the countries are inter-dependent on each other on the use of genetic resources of tree species, particularly for tree improvement and the trade of forest reproductive material, although this inter-dependence is not as strong as in the agricultural sector.
The follow-up committee proposed creating a European collaborative programme to support the implementation of Strasbourg Resolution 2 by developing gene conservation methods and sharing relevant information. The committee also proposed that, to address most of the scientific and operational problems, the regional collaboration should first focus on a limited number of tree species representing different geographic and ecological conditions in Europe. The operational recommendations of the committee and a proposal developed by Bioversity International and FAO for the establishment of the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) were then endorsed by the Helsinki Conference in June 1993 and EUFORGEN became operational in October 1994.
EUFORGEN started its activities with four pilot networks focusing on black poplar, cork oak, noble hardwoods and Norway spruce. A fifth network for social broadleaves (temperate oaks and beech) was established in 1997.
Black poplar (Populus nigra) is a pioneer species growing mainly along rivers and its natural populations are to a large extent threatened by river engineering, habitat destruction and other human activities. The forest ecosystems dominated by black poplars harbour considerable amount of biological diversity and from the economic point of view, the species has been used as a parental pool to create new hybrids for intensive wood production.
The natural distribution of cork oak (Quercus suber) is limited to western Mediterranean region where it has considerable economic importance in countries such as Italy, Portugal and Spain. Although the species has been planted for cork production, it is considered endangered as the cork oak woodlands have been declining as a result of human interventions.
Noble hardwoods are a group of tree species with valuable timber. They are also important for landscaping and other environmental uses. They often favour good, specific habitats and have a limited capacity for competition. The species include commonly occurring, insect-pollinated species such as maples (Acer spp.) and limes (Tilia spp.), and wind-pollinated species like alders (Alnus spp.), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and elms (Ulmus spp.). Rarely occurring, insect-pollinated species include wild apple (Malus sylvestris), wild pear (Pyrus pyraster) and wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis). In total, the EUFORGEN Noble Hardwoods Network identified more than 30 tree species as important for its work when the activities were started.
Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a conifer with a large distribution in northern and central Europe. The species often grow in dense stands forming large and continuous forests. Subsequently, it is a species with major economic importance. In the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Norway spruce forests declined due to acid rains especially in Central Europe, and therefore urgent genetic conservation measures were considered important for the species. It was also expected to suffer damages brought by climate change in boreal areas and at high altitudes in the alpine zone.
The Social Broadleaves Network identified oaks (Quercus petraea and Q. robur) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) as its target species. These are major stand-forming tree species with a significant role in forestry in a large part of Europe.
By the end of Phase I, the EUFORGEN Networks had become dynamic platforms, which facilitated regional collaboration on forest genetic resources. Frequent network meetings brought together scientists and managers to exchange information, discuss needs and priorities. Most of the technical work was carried out by the network members between the meetings. A total of 28 member countries had joined EUFORGEN by the end of Phase I.
Major outputs of Phase I included country reports with information on the status of genetic resources, research activities, methods, legislation, constraints, needs and priorities. These reports were considered very helpful for developing national strategies for the management of forest genetic resources. The Networks developed long-term gene conservation strategies for several tree species or groups of species. A first booklet with technical guidelines on the management of gene conservation stands was also produced for Norway spruce. Several Networks also developed descriptors for collecting data on gene conservation stands and clone collections. The Populus nigra Network created a database of black poplar clones available in European countries as well as a core collection of black poplar clones.
During the second phase, EUFORGEN continued its work through the Networks. The Picea abies Network broadened its scope and it was renamed as the Conifers Network. Similarly, the Quercus suber Network evolved into the Mediterranean Oaks Network. In 2002, the name of the Social Broadleaves Network was also changed to the Temperate Oaks and Beech Network. By December 2004, 32 countries had become EUFORGEN members.
The major achievement of Phase II was development of technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use. These six-page guidelines, targeted to practical managers, were prepared for more than 20 tree species. They provide summarised information on the biology and ecology of a tree species, distribution ranges, importance and use, genetic knowledge, threats to genetic diversity and guidelines for genetic conservation and use. The guidelines present commonly agreed recommendations based on the available knowledge of the species and on widely accepted methods for the conservation of forest genetic resources. The guidelines were published in English and many countries have now translated several of them into their national languages.
During Phase II, the Networks continued the development of conservation strategies for several tree species. The Populus nigra Network also produced a technical bulletin on the in situ conservation of black poplar. Following the Steering Committee discussion in 2002, the Networks initiated the development of so called “common action plans” which aim at sharing of responsibilities for conservation of forest genetic resources in Europe. The common action plans are an effort to create pan-European networks of primarily in situ conservation units for selected tree species within their entire distribution ranges. Ex situ conservation units outside species’ natural distribution ranges can also be included if they contribute to dynamic gene conservation. The common action plans do not attempt to create a new European conservation programme but merely to locate the already existing gene conservation units in various countries and obtain geo-referenced data on these units to assess the status of the gene conservation efforts at pan-European level.
The adoption of a new resolution on forest biological diversity at the Vienna Conference in 2003 created new demands for the regional collaboration on forest genetic resources in Europe. While the MCPFE process supported the continued collaboration through EUFORGEN, it also highlighted the importance of linking conservation of forest genetic resources with sustainable forest management. Subsequently, the Steering Committee adopted new objectives for Phase III to ensure that EUFORGEN also contributes to the implementation of Vienna Resolution 4 on forest biological diversity while continuing the implementation of Strasbourg Resolution 2.
For Phase III, the Steering Committee re-organized the network structure and the five species networks were merged into three: Conifers Network, Scattered Broadleaves Network and Stand-forming Broadleaves Network. The Scattered Broadleaves Network continued the work of the Noble Hardwoods and Populus nigra Networks while the Stand-forming Broadleaves did the same for the Mediterranean Oaks and Temperate Oaks and Beech Networks. Furthermore, the Steering Committee established a new thematic Forest Management Network.
The Forest Management Network focused on promoting closer integration of gene conservation into practical forest management and national forest programmes. It carried out surveys on policy tools countries have in place to promote the use of high quality forest reproductive material as well as relevant policies and practices related to gene conservation and forest management. The findings of these surveys are reported in a thematic publication on forest management and forest genetic resources. This publication is being finalized together with the species Networks which provide additional inputs. The Forest Management Network is also finalizing another publication on genetics aspects of forest management. This publication will discuss the role of regeneration methods (natural versus artificial) and then describe the genetic consequences of the silvicultural chain.
During Phase III, the Forest Management Network discussed frequently climate change and its implications for the use of forest reproductive material. Some countries have already analysed various options for the future use of forest reproductive material and identified key issues for further considerations in this regard. The Network is now preparing a four-page leaflet to present an overview of these options and issues for the benefit of other countries.
The other Networks developed additional Technical Guidelines for several tree species. Furthermore, the species Networks finalized minimum requirements for gene conservation units for different groups of tree species. These minimum requirements were then harmonized by the EUFGIS project into pan-European minimum requirements for gene conservation units of forest trees. The Networks also continued development of the common action plans focusing on selected groups of tree species.
The EUFORGEN Programme is coordinated by Bioversity International.
Bioversity is the operating name of the
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)
and the International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP).
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