Forests and trees enhance and protect landscapes, ecosystems and production systems. They provide goods and services which are essential to the survival and well-being of all humanity. Forest genetic resources – the heritable materials maintained within and among tree and other woody plant species that are of actual or potential economic, environmental, scientific or societal value – are essential for the continued productivity, services, adaptation and evolutionary processes of forests and trees. This first volume of The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources constitutes a major step in building the information and knowledge base required for action towards better conservation and sustainable management of forest genetic resources at the national, regional and international levels. The publication was prepared based on information provided by 86 countries, outcomes from regional and subregional consultations and commissioned thematic studies. It presents definitions and concepts related to forest genetic resources and a FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES review of their value; the main drivers of changes and the trends affecting these vital resources; and key emerging technologies. The central section analyses the current status of conservation and use of forest genetic resources on the basis of reports provided by the countries. The book concludes with recommendations for ensuring that present and future generations continue to benefit from forests and trees, both through innovations in practices and technologies and through enhanced attention to forest genetic resources at the institutional and policy level. FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES ISBN 978-92-5-108402-1 978 9251 084021 I3825E/1/06.14 THE STATE OF THE WORLD’s FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2014 i The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. ISBN 978-92-5-108402-1 (print) E-ISBN 978-92-5-108403-8 (PDF) © FAO, 2014 FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way. All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licence-request or addressed to [email protected]. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/publications) and can be purchased through [email protected]. Foreword orests cover nearly one-third of the world’s land area. They provide vital environmental services such as soil and water protection, regulate the climate and preserve biodiversity, Fproduce valuable raw materials and food, and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people. Forest genetic resources – the heritable materials maintained within and among trees and other woody plant species – are essential for the adaptation and the evolutionary processes of forests and trees as well as for improving their resilience and productivity. The conservation of forest genetic resources is more topical than ever at a time when the world is increasingly confronted with challenges from increased human population, land- use changes and climate change. These pressures, and related increases in unsustainable use, wildfire, pests and diseases, as documented in the Climate change 2013 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), are causing losses of forest cover and of forest biodiversity, both among and within species. Lack of information limits the capacity of many countries and the international community to develop appropriate policy tools to address the issues or to integrate forest genetic resources management into relevant cross-cutting sectorial policies. Reliable data on the status and trends of forest genetic resources are required for decision- makers and stakeholders to provide adequate support for their sustainable management. Recognizing this need for information and the urgency of addressing the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture requested and guided the preparation of The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources, and agreed, in response to its findings, on strategic priorities which the FAO Conference adopted in June 2013 as the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources. This first ever report on The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources constitutes a milestone in building the information and knowledge base required for action at the national, regional and international levels. It has been developed through a country-driven process, building on 86 country reports – representing over 85 percent of global forest cover – and with the participation of representatives from national institutions and non- governmental and community-based organizations. Its recommendations are based on these reports, which indicate that about half of the forest species in reporting countries are threatened or subject to genetic erosion, and only about one-quarter are actively managed for their products and/or services. This publication provides the basis for renewed efforts to realize national and international commitments to improved conservation, sustainable use and management of forest genetic resources. As established in its Reviewed Strategic Framework 2010-2019 and in particular through its Strategic Objective 2, FAO is striving to “increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner”. Measures include strengthening its technical support to countries in the area of forest genetic resources and promoting the integration of forest genetic resources into broader forest resource management programmes at the national, regional and international levels. This report is a key ingredient in this effort. I am confident that the information in The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources will be used as the basis for policy and technical decisions to strengthen national efforts in conservation and sustainable management of forest genetic resources, efforts that will contribute to meeting the world’s current and future needs for forest products and environmental services while enhancing food security. iv Contents Foreword iii Acknowledgements xiii About this publication xv Executive summary xxi Part 1 Overview CHAPTER 1 BASIC CONCEPTS 3 Definitions 4 Characteristics of forest genetic resources 8 Species diversity 11 CHAPTER 2 VALUE AND IMportANCE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES 19 Economic value 20 Environmental value, ecosystem services and resilience 22 Social, cultural, medicinal and scientific value 24 Preserving options for future development and adaptation 25 CHAPTER 3 ConservATION OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES 27 Management systems in the field (in situ and circa situm conservation) 28 Ex situ conservation 32 Targeted species-based approach 39 CHAPTER 4 KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ON FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES 41 What constitutes knowledge of forest genetic resources? 42 Availability of information on genetic resources 46 Part 2 Drivers of change and trends affecting forest genetic resources CHAPTER 5 DRIVERS OF CHANGE 51 Forest conversion and expansion of crop land 51 Demand for energy 52 Unsustainable harvesting and use 53 Livestock and browse animals 54 Climate change 54 Changed fire regimes 58 Invasive species 59 Genetic pollution 62 CHAPTER 6 GLOBAL FOREST TRENDS AFFECTING FOREST GENETIC DIVERSITY 65 Forest trends 65 Consequences of forest changes for genetic diversity 70 Part 3 Current and emerging technologies CHAPTER 7 TRAIT-BASED KNOWLEDGE OF TREE GENETIC RESOURCES 79 Indigenous and traditional knowledge 79 Classical tree improvement 83 Participatory tree domestication 89 CHAPTER 8 MoDERN ADVANCES 91 Population genetics based on molecular markers 91 Genomic advances 94 Combining molecular tools with tree improvement: marker-assisted selection 96 Genetic modification 98 CHAPTER 9 AppLICATION OF GENETIC KNOWLEDGE IN FOREST conservATION 101 Combining spatial analysis with genetic markers to prioritize conservation 102 Research on climate change and forest genetic resources 103 Genetic technologies for reducing illegal logging 104 Part 4 State of forest genetic resources conservation and management CHAPTER 10 HOW COUNTRIES MANAGE AND conserve THEIR FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES 111 Features of effective and comprehensive FGR conservation and