Romania takes part in the MCPFE (Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe) process which has promoted several actions to enhance the conservation on forest biodiversity in general and forest genetic resources in particular. Romania is also a member country of the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) which has developed the conservation methods for tree species. A dynamic gene conservation strategy is based on the maintenance of the evolutionary processes within tree population to safeguard their potential for continuous adaptation: in their natural habitats (in situ) or outside their natural range at artificial (planted) sites (ex situ).

A new National Register of Forest Genetic Resources was approved by the National Authority responsible for sylvicultural matters in 2008.

There have been established 698 gene conservation units for 45 forest tree species totalizing 12922.8 ha core zone. Each gene conservation unit is surrounded by a 300-500m wide buffer zone. Most gene conservation units (from 20 to123) have been constituted by mainly autochthonous species and the least (1-5) for some scattered or exotic introduced species. Also, there have been established conservation units for species vegetating in extreme site conditions (the forest’s superior altitudinal limit or small “islands” of steppe forests, stands on swampy or sandy soils).

Each gene conservation unit is characterized by a unique identification code and a register sheet which contains all descriptive information: administrative and geographical localization, ownership type, region of provenance, surface, description of stand and site conditions, conservation type (in situ or ex situ). The genetic resources’ GIS database was created using the ArcGIS-ArcInfo 9.2 software platform in the Personal Geo-database format; digital maps have also been realized for the gene conservation units’ distribution on species. Technical guidelines were elaborated for a sustainable management of the forest genetic resources (detailing the proposed sylvicultural works for the core zone as well for the buffer zone).