Utilization and transfer of forest genetic resources: A global review

By J. Koskela, B. Vinceti, W. Dvorak, D. Bush, I. Dawson, J. Loo, E. D. Kjær, C. Navarro, C. Padolina, S. Bordács and 3 more. 2014

103 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Over the last 200 years, genetic resources of forest trees have been increasingly transferred, within and outside of species’ native distribution ranges, for forestry and for research and development (R&D). Transferred germplasm has been deployed to grow trees for numerous purposes, ranging from the production of wood and non-wood products to the provision of ecosystem services such as the restoration of forests for biodiversity conservation. The oldest form of R&D, provenance trials, revealed early on that seed origin has a major influence on the performance of planted trees. International provenance trials have been essential for selecting seed sources for reforestation and for improving tree germplasm through breeding. Many tree breeding programmes were initiated in the 1950s, but as one round of testing and selection typically takes decades, the most advanced of them are only in their third cycle. Recent advances in forest genomics have increased the understanding of the genetic basis of different traits, but it is unlikely that molecular marker-assisted approaches will quickly replace traditional tree breeding methods. Furthermore, provenance trials and progeny tests are still needed to complement new research approaches. Currently, seed of boreal and temperate trees for reforestation purposes are largely obtained from improved sources. The situation is similar for fast growing tropical and subtropical trees grown in plantations, but in the case of tropical hardwoods and many agroforestry trees, only limited tested or improved seed sources are available. Transfers of tree germplasm involve some risks of spreading pests and diseases, of introducing invasive tree species and of polluting the genetic make-up of already present tree populations. Many of these risks have been underestimated in the past, but they are now better understood and managed. Relatively few tree species used for forestry have become invasive, and the risk of spreading pests and diseases while transferring seed is considerably lower than when moving live plants. The implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS) may significantly change current transfer practices in the forestry sector by increasing transaction costs and the time needed to lawfully obtain forest genetic resources for R&D purposes. Many countries are likely to struggle to establish a well-functioning ABS regulatory system, slowing down the process of obtaining the necessary documentation for exchange. This is unfortunate, as climate change, outbreaks of pests and diseases, and continual pressure to support productivity, increase the need for transferring tree germplasm and accelerating R&D.

Subfields: Ecology, Forestry, Global and Planetary Change

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f312e08597b09597855e26f9438f8eb75b80d5f3

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Citations in the corpus

The role of forest genetic resources in responding to biotic and abiotic factors in the context of anthropogenic climate change (2014, background): “The acceleration of global trade has increased the likelihood of cross-continental introductions of alien species, which may become more widely established in new ecosystem niches created by global warming (Koskela et al., 2009; Koskela et al., 2014, this special issue; Peterson et al., 2008).”
Forests and Decarbonization – Roles of Natural and Planted Forests (2020, background): “Substituting wood products for fossil-fuel intensive steel and cement, wherever possible, can reduce the climate impacts of the construction sector (Lippke et al., 2014; Leskinen et al., 2018), which accounts for approximately one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions (Lucon et al., 2014).”
Considerations for restoring temperate forests of tomorrow: forest restoration, assisted migration, and bioengineering (2015, background): “As discussed earlier, native populations adapted to sites under current climate may become maladapted as changes in climate occur.”
The management of tree genetic resources and the livelihoods of rural communities in the tropics: non-timber forest products, smallholder agroforestry practices and tree commodity crops (2014, background): “Research suggests that knowledge on use is often higher among indigenous peoples than among immigrant communities (Kuhnlein et al., 2009; Moran, 1993), while within communities cultural perceptions on who should eat particular foods, and when, are also important (Balée, 2013; Hladik et al., 1993).”