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ArticleLinking conservation of forest genetic resources to species restoration in Western Himalayas
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.Himalayas are rich repositories of biodiversity and provide ecosystem goods and services to the communities of the area. Many ecologically and socio-economically important species of the Himalayan region are threatened due to their utilization, deforestation, degradation and climate change. These threaten the sustainability of forest genetic resources and highlight the importance of conservation and sustainable management of these resources. A research program on conservation of Forest Genetic Resources (FGRs) with special focus on the exploration of FGRs of North-West Himalayas has been undertaken with the support from Environment and Forest Ministry of India. Under the programme major activities undertaken are documentation of species populations, their characterization and germplasm storage. The population of the prioritized species are being explored, populations geo-tagged, phenological observations and species associations recorded. Their seeds are collected at maturity, processed, tested for quality and desiccated to safe moisture levels for storage. The seed storage physiology of important Himalayan species like spruce, fir, Acer spp., oaks, Carpinus, Buxus, Fraxinus, pines, rhododendrons, walnut, Corylus, Hippophae, medicinal shrubs/trees, etc. are being studied for chalking out a long-term ex situ conservation programme. Seeds of most of these species have orthodox seeds which after slow desiccation to lowest safe moisture levels are vacuum sealed and stored in seed bank at -180C for periodic regeneration. Thus, ex situ conservation becomes the focal point of gene conservation programme of FGRs of Himalayan Region. Conservation units of species, in nature, that maintain vital genetic diversity for the species survival and adaptive capacity for their sustenance are important. Utilizing the knowledge and information from long-term FGR conservation programmes for chalking out robust species restoration strategies, will only script the success stories. Keywords: Conservation, Forest Genetic Resources, Seeds,field germplasm bank, species restoration ID: 3486837 -
Book (stand-alone)Forests and Genetically Modified Trees 2010
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No results found.The world’s forests generate substantial economic benefits, and also provide countless ecosystem services and social, cultural and spiritual benefits on which it is more difficult to place an economic value. Aside from being a source of fibre, forests help protect air and water quality, mitigate climate change by storing vast quantities of carbon, and provide a home, temple and playground for many people. Because of these intangible values and the long life span of trees, it is imp ossible to treat forests as a commodity within an agricultural model. The gap between forests and agricultural systems has become especially clear in the context of genetic engineering. The successful introduction of genetic engineering in agriculture, albeit for a limited number of traits and species, prompted forest scientists and managers to consider its use as a management and production tool in forestry. This subject has generated heated debates and violent reactions, which have often lacked the support of objective information. Furthermore, the existing scientific information has been contradictory, allowing for questions concerning its credibility. The competitive zeal of some biotechnology owners has added more fuel to the debate. In the course of this debate, the term ‘biotechnology’ has often been wrongly used as synonymous with genetic engineering. In light of this confusion, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) has formed a task force to address genetic engineering in forestry. Its mandate is to report and present factual information covering both the scientific and social dimensions of genetic engineering technology (also known as genetic transformation, gene technology or genetic modification). This publication, developed under the auspices of the IUFRO task force, has been created to present independent information gathered from the world’s leading experts on the many facets of this subject. -
Book (stand-alone)Advancing the role of natural regeneration in large-scale forest and landscape restoration in the Asia-Pacific region
19-21 June 2017, Nanning, Guangxi Province, China
2018Also available in:
No results found.There are numerous global, regional, national and even subnational targets for increasing forest area and forest restoration. In light of these global targets and emerging ambitious national commitments, it is imperative to develop low-cost strategies and techniques for landscape restoration. The most widely used restoration strategies involving planting of tree seedlings are often costly and their application for restoring vast expanses of degraded forest lands in the region may be limited. Case studies and experiences with natural regeneration from the region have shown that natural regeneration significantly reduces the cost of restoration in areas that meet certain conditions. Native species that are adapted to the prevailing conditions re-establish on their own with some assistance, achieving accelerated growth in accordance with natural succession, leading to the recovery of native ecosystems. Restoration strategies based on natural regeneration also provide low-cost opportunities for conserving biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and watershed protection. Despite these economic and environmental advantages, natural regeneration is often overlooked when restoration policies and programmes are designed for a number of reasons. These include lack of its recognition as a viable restoration option; perverse incentives favouring clearing of young secondary growth for plantation development or other land uses; lack of institutional support by government agencies and other organizations; unclear tenure and property rights; lack of incentives for local communities; and uncertainty about the restoration processes and outcomes. This publication aims to share information on the outcome of the regional workshop, entitled ‘Promoting the Role of Natural Regeneration in Large-scale Forest and Landscape Restoration: Challenges and Opportunities, held in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, from 19 to 21 June 2017, which was organized to better understand the challenges and opportunities for natural forest regeneration and to promote its inclusion as a major component of large-scale restoration initiatives.
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