Understanding Diversity:
– Understanding the diversity of species is crucial for sustainable use and conservation.
– Monitoring distribution and genetic diversity helps prioritize populations for conservation.
– Identifying at-risk populations and existing gaps in genebank collections is essential.
– This information aids in addressing global challenges like food security and climate change.
State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources:
– FAO published the first State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources in 2014.
– Half of the forest species regularly utilized by countries are threatened.
– The Global Plan of Action for Forest Genetic Resources has 27 strategic priorities.
– Priorities include improving information availability, conservation, and sustainable use.
Forest Genetic Resources and Climate Change:
– Climate change will affect the distribution of forest tree species in the next 50-100 years.
– Diversity enables species to adapt to climate challenges like temperature changes and drought.
– Some species may need human interventions like transfer of reproductive material.
– Interventions are crucial for rare and scattered species on the edge of their distribution range.
See Also:
– Trees portal
– Environmental DNA
– Plant genetic resources
References:
– The concept of genetic resources in the Convention on Biological Diversity is crucial.
– Managing genetic variation in tropical trees is essential for conservation.
– Training in spatial analysis of plant diversity and distribution is valuable.
– UN urges action to protect forests’ genetic diversity.
– Various publications and studies emphasize the importance of safeguarding forest genetic resources.
Forest genetic resources or forest tree genetic resources are genetic resources (i.e., genetic material of actual or future value) of forest shrub and tree species. Forest genetic resources are essential for forest-depending communities who rely for a substantial part of their livelihoods on timber and non-timber forest products (for example fruits, gums and resins) for food security, domestic use and income generation. These resources are also the basis for large-scale wood production in planted forests to satisfy the worldwide need for timber and paper. Genetic resources of several important timber, fruit and other non-timber tree species are conserved ex situ in genebanks or maintained in field collections. Nevertheless, in situ conservation in forests and on farms is in the case of most tree species the most important measure to protect their genetic resources.[citation needed]