Introduction
During the last two years, there has been an important initiative concerning forest genetic resources in the countries of the Southern Cone of Latin America - Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay - especially concerning introduced species - that has generated great interest from a commercial point-of-view.
In Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, there are important afforestation initiatives that have led to a rapid development of forestry activities based on species of rapid growth, which in all cases are species from other latitudes. Argentina has forested land covering somewhat more than 1 million hectares, Chile 2.1 million hectares, and Uruguay nearly 500 thousand hectares.
In Paraguay, the establishment of forest plantations is just starting.
This has generated important developments in the area of genetic improvement, especially in the sphere of private enterprise. The country with most development in this area is Chile, which started a program of genetic improvement of Pinus radiata 25 years ago, achieving important advances during this period.
In Argentina, companies still plant a high proportion of imported seed, particularly in the case of Pinus spp., but there is important progress, given that first generation clonal orchards have been established, that should enter into production in the next few years.
As has been traditional in these countries, attention has centred on introduced species, leaving native species relegated to second place. In spite of this, in the last years a major interest has been noted in native genetic resources. Such is the case in Chile, where a series of programmes have been started, aimed at the conservation and improvement of native species of commercial interest.
Activities to preserve and rehabilitate threatened forest genetic resources are quite rare in the countries of the southern cone.
I. Political and institutional aspects
Argentina.
In the last two years there have been no important changes in policy or institutional matters, related to forest genetic resources.
With respect to the development of forest management, a process is being started to disseminate the achievements of and needs for certification in forest management, by means of a range of publications and the organisation of a workshop on forest certification.
In relation to other conventions, the active participation of Argentina is of note in a range of meetings related to the Climate Change Convention, including regional meetings, the session of subsidiary bodies and the conferences of parties carried out in the period.
Argentina stands out for the great potential of the forestry sector as a carbon sink, and the notable increase in plantations, due to the promotional policies applied by the State. These have allowed the rate of annual planting to be increased from 20,000 ha in 1992 to 100,000 ha in the last years. The goal is to plant 2 million ha. in the next ten years, with important benefits in: carbon fixation; reduction in pressure on native forests; reduction in flooding; improvement of the landscape; creation of 120 thousand new jobs, and industrial development with investments estimated at US$ 5,000 million over the period.
The participation of Argentina in the Montreal process is also stands out, and the formation of a working group amongst the countries of the Southern Cone of Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay) destined to collaborate in the implementation of the process.
Chile
In response to a reduction in the rate of plantation that has occurred in the last four years, modifications were made to the regulations concerning the law on planting incentives. This produced an immediate change in the trend, registering a considerable increase in plantations during 2000, reaching again an amount near to 100,000 ha.
Chile has not shown anything new with respect to legislation and institutions concerning forest genetic resources. It is worth mentioning that discussion about new legislation on native forest resources is continuing, and next year, there will have been ten years of the legislative process. With regard to institutions, the Chilean forest service - the National Forest Corporation - is under legislation to convert it to a public service. At the moment it is a private Corporation. A law is also under way that permits the creation of private protected forest areas, with the support of the State.
With regard to forest management, important progress has been made on the subject of certification of sustainable forest management. Many companies have opted for certification under the rules of the FSC. On the other hand, a group of public and private institutions are working in the development of national standards of certification, both for forest plantations as well as for some types of native forests. Standards for plantation certification are advanced, and international recognition is being sought. The FSC is also working, through a local NGO, to adjust its standards to Chilean conditions.
It is important to note that Chile has initiated the first steps towards establishing a permanent monitoring of native ecosystems, including timber resources; biological diversity; water; and soil, thus working towards fulfilling international agreements and responding to the strong pressure imposed by society concerning the management and future of its forests.
In the international sphere, Chile has participated actively in the Climate Change Convention; the Convention for Biological Diversity; the Montreal process, and regional meetings organised by FAO. Chile has actively participated in the FIB and the recently created UNFF.
Paraguay.
There is no information on institutional or legislative changes.
Uruguay.
There are no recent changes with respect to legislation and institutions concerning phytogenetic resources in general. The latest legal changes, in March 1999, expand the objectives of the National Committee for Phytogenetic Resources, established in 1995, where the permanent updating of the National Report on Phytogenetic Resources and the creation of a national system of phytogenetic resources are proposed.
With respect to international agreements, Uruguay has participated in the Montreal process and in different meetings related to phytogenetic resources, in particular CDB, FAO, OMC, UPOV.
In spite of having ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993, there are neither legal instruments established for its application, nor regulations with regard to access to the genetic resources in the country. It should be noted also that there is a lack of co-ordination with regard to participation in the different global initiatives concerned with the forest resources.
A committee of phytogenetic resources has been set up, in order to achieve the inclusion of the subject of forestry in school and university education.
II. Technical and Biological Aspects.
Argentina
i) Indigenous resources
In relation to local FGR, a programme of Genetic Improvement and Silviculture for Algarrobos and Calden is of note. In Argentina, there are 28 species of the genus Prosopis, with a high inter- and intra-specific variability. Of these, six species are being looked at for wood quality and possible use in silvo-pastoral programmes: Prosopis chilensis; Prosopis flexuosa; P. alba; P. nigra; P. hassleri and P. caldenia.
The program's objective is to evaluate the resources made up by these species; establish an improvement programme aimed at improving wood quality and fodder, and to establish ways of distributing the improved genetic material.
In the Patagonia region, studies are being concentrated on deciduous Nothofagus, especially Nothofagus nervosa; N. obliqua and N. pumilio.
ii) Plantations.
With regard to plantations of rapidly growing species, there is important work underway. Argentina currently has a forested area somewhat more than 1 million ha.
A focus of development can be clearly identified, in which almost 60% of the plantations of the country are concentrated in the region known as Mesopotamica, including the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes and Entre Ríos. The main species planted in this area are Pinus taeda; Pinus elliottii, Eucalyptus grandis and E. dunnii. Although on a lesser scale, reforestation programmes are being developed with Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis; P. caribaea var. bahamensis and the hybrids of Pinus elliotii x caribaea, considering the two varieties previously mentioned.
Other introduced species planted in the area are;
Melia azederach; Grevillea robusta; Toona ciliata and Pawlonia sp. (Kiri)
There are plantations of native species as well. Of these, some 500 ha of Araucaria angustifolia have been planted annually.
In the Northeast, the main species are Pinus taeda; Pinus patula: complex P. patula- tecunumanii-greggii and Eucalyptus grandis.
Another zone of importance from the forestry point of view is the delta in the province of Buenos Aires, where there are extensive plantations of Populus (P. deltoides; P.alba; P. nigra; P. x euroamericana, P. x interamericana) and Salix, that are used as raw material in the production of paper and as sawn wood.
More to the south, in the pampas region, afforestation is carried out on small-scale, using Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa as the principal species.
With regard to genetic improvement programmes, greatest progress has been achieved with the species Pinus taeda, P. elliottii and the hybrid Pinus elliottii x caribaea. Private companies have played an important role in this development. In the case of Pinus taeda, progress has taken the form of first generation clonal seed orchards, clone banks, and progeny trials that include collections from the whole distribution range of the species. The best results come from the Florida provenances in the United States.
Until the orchards are producing, seed is obtained from APS and seed is imported from seed orchards in the United States.
With regard to vegetative propagation of these species, a company is working at operational level, using material from controlled crosses, bulked by macro-propagation (cuttings). There are research projects in organogenesis, which should give results that can be applied from 2002. The company is working, although outside Argentina, in protocols for the embriogenesis of Pinus taeda.
In the case of Pinus elliottii, there are at least three seed orchards, based on collections introduced in 1986 and 1988., Companies and INTA participate in this program. In 2002 trials of the respective progeny were established.
In the Andes-Patagonia zone, a programme for selection of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa is being started, aimed at establishing clonal seed orchards. Also, the genetic basis of these species has been increased, with new provenance trials and some material from seed orchards from the United States.
In the case of species from the genus Eucalyptus, there has been important progress in the improvement of E. grandis that will allow seed that is currently imported from South Africa and Australia to be replaced. Currently, there are three seed orchards of this species, one of which is clonal. Also, the first seed orchards of E. dunnii and E. globulus ssp. globulus have been established.
Chile
i) Indigenous resources
With regard to indigenous forest resources, a basic programme of genetic improvement was started in 1997 for various species, including Nothofagus obliqua; N. nervosa (N. alpina); N. dombeyi, N. pumilio and Laurelia philipiana. For these species, studies of genetic variability in the natural populations and selection of plus trees for the establishment of seed orchards are being carried out., The program has most progress for N. nervosa, and protocols have been established for micro-propagation of selected clones.
The National Forest Corporation (CONAF) is developing an in situ and ex situ conservation programme of various species with conservation problems. The priority species are Gomortega keule; Pitavia punctata; Beilschmiedia berteroana; Beilschmiedia miersii; Nothofagus alessandri, N. glauca and Prosopis tamarugo.
ii) Plantations.
Forest plantations reach 2.1 million hectares. The principal species planted are: Pinus radiata; Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus and E. nitens.
With regard to genetic improvement, to date there are 115 genetic trials of Pinus radiata and 49 of E. globulus ssp. globulus. The majority of these are co-ordinated by the Genetic Improvement Co-operative, in which companies, universities, and state institutions participate.
In the case of P. radiata, good progress has been made in programmes of genetic improvement developed by private industries. The large companies establish clonal plantations, which results in an excess of seed from orchards. Protocols for somatic embriogenesis have been developed, which are starting to be used at an operational scale.
Improvement activities have continued, including wood characteristics and resistance to plagues and diseases.
In the case of Eucalyptus globulus spp. Globulus, the principal companies that plant this species have got to the stage of clonal silviculture, by reproduction using macro and micro propagation techniques. Programmes to improve the cold resistance of this species are also being developed. Plantations in small and medium properties continue to be made with unimproved seed.
In the case of E. nitens, seed orchards continue to be established, so as to replace seed that is imported from Australia, New Zealand, and there is research on possibilities of the species for the production of products such as sawn wood, veneers and boards.
Programmes have been developed for extreme zones. In the semi-arid region, selection procedures have been developed in the search for greater resistance to drought, as well as form and growth rate. The principal species are Eucalyptus camaldulensis; E. cladocalyx and E. sideroxylon.
For the cold zones, a programme of improvement has been stepped up for Pseudotsuga menziesii, widening the selection base with new provenance and progeny trials. The first clonal orchards are being established. A programme of genetic improvement for Pinus ponderosa has been started, for cold Andean zones and southern regions.
During the last years, a range of research activities have been started to introduce species of high-value timber, and for combinations of products (e.g. fruit/wood). Among these of particular note are Castanea sativa; Juglans regia; Prunus serotina. Also, research has been started on species from the genera Populus and Salix.
Uruguay
i) Indigenous resources
There is no reported activity with regard to indigenous species.
ii) Plantations
During last years there has been important progress with regard to the forest plantations where species of the genera Pinus and Eucalyptus predominate. The species most planted are E. grandis, E. globulus ssp. globulus,; and E. globulus ssp. maidenii which occupy nearly 70% of the area planted, and Pinus elliottii y P. taeda, which represent the remaining 30%. Genetic improvement programmes are being developed with these species, by both state institutions and private enterprise. Micro-propagation is currently practised with Eucalyptus species, and there are also grounds for somatic embriogenesis and genetic modification.
III. Operational and organisational aspects.
Argentina.
The Secretariat for Agriculture, Cattle-raising, Fish and Food (SAGPyA) has created Extension Forestry Nuclei (NEF), with the aim of transferring information and technology that will improve techniques for the establishment of forest plantations.
A programme for certification of forest seed has also been established, so as to provide security in the use of genetically improved seed. For this purpose, Standards for Certification, Production, Commercialisation, and Importation of Forest Seeds (Res. INASE 256/99) have been established.
Chile.
With regard to research topics, the financial systems are not the most adequate for forest research. Nevertheless, the interest of the funders has been maintained, and they continue financing research concerning species of rapid growth, especially Eucalyptus spp and Pseudotsuga menziesii. There is also significant support for the diversification of species.
The Genetic Improvement Cooperative, in which the main companies and state organisations of the sector participate, published the first catalogue of improved seed, and a catalogue of plus trees and genetic values of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus orchards.
In these two years, there has been increased financing in relation to indigenous resources, and a program of inventory and continuous monitoring of indigenous forest ecosystems has been started. This marks an important step with regard to the fulfilment of international agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Montreal Process and the proposals for action in the IPF/IFF process.
With regard to international collaboration, of note is the project to promote the management of indigenous forests, financed by the German bank KfW, the participation of GTZ and DED.
Uruguay
There have been no important changes during the last two years
ANNEX I: INFORMATION SOURCES[6]
Argentina.
Regional update, 12th Session FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources. Report prepared by the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimentación. Buenos Aires, Noviembre 2001.
Martín Marcó y Leonel Harrand. Strategies for utilisation of genetic resources of the principal exotic species of Argentina. III Reunión Latino-Americana de Especialistas en Recursos Forestales Genéticos Forestales. Concordia, Noviembre 2001.
Francisco Rodriguez, Empresa Bosques de la Plata, Concordia, Argentina
Chile.
Personal communication with:
Sr. Braulio Gutierrez, Instituto Forestal. Camino a Coronel Km. 7.5, San Pedro, Concepción.
Sr. Claudio Balocchi, Cooperativa de Mejoramiento Genético y Empresa Bioforest. Concepción.
Sr. Claudio Cunazza, Corporación Nacional Forestal, Santiago
Sr. Rodolfo Gajardo. Profesor Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Chile.
Uruguay
Regional update, 12th Session FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources. Uruguay Report. Information obtained from Dra. Zohra Bennadji. Tacuarembó, Uruguay, October 2001.
USEFUL REFERENCES
Anonimo. 1997. Primer Seminario Nacional sobre Biodiversidad Vegetal. Facultad de Agronomía. Universidad de la República. Montevideo. Uruguay. 10 pp.
Bennadji, Z. 1998. Situación de los recursos genéticos forestales en Uruguay. Póster. Primer Congreso Latinoamericano IUFRO, Valdivia, Chile. 3 p., CDRom.
Bennadji, Z. 1999. Análisis del sector productor y consumidor de semillas forestales en Uruguay. En: II Simposio sobre Avances en la Producción de Semillas Forestales en América Latina. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, 18-22 de octubre. pp 263-268.
Bennadji, Z.; Sanguinetti, G.; Cardozo, R. 2000. Implementación del primer programa de certificación de semillas mejoradas de especies de uso forestal en el Uruguay. Simposio Internacional IUFRO "Desarrollando el Eucalipto del Futuro". Chile, Valdivia 10 - 15 setiembre de 2001. 13 pp. Actas en CD.
Bennadji, Z. 2001. Pool genético del Programa Nacional Forestal del INIA-Uruguaya: Estado actual y perspectivas.12pp. (en prensa).
Carrere, R. 1990. Desarrollo forestal y medio ambiente en el Uruguay. El bosque natural uruguayo: Caracterización general y estudios de caso. CIEDUR. Serie Investigaciones N°72. 105 pp.
Carrere, R. 1990. Desarrollo forestal y medio ambiente en el Uruguay, 7. El bosque natural uruguayo: utilización tradicional y usos alternativos. CIEDUR, Serie Investigaciones N° 79. Montevideo. 91 pp.
Corporacion Nacional Forestal. Libro rojo de la flora terrestre de Chile. 1989
Condon, F., Blanco,G., Berretta, A., Rivas, M., Bayce, B. Y Costa, B.1998. Uruguay: Estado de los recursos fitogenéticos. In Avances de investigación en recursos genéticos en el Cono Sur. Diálogo LV, PROCISUR, Montevideo, pp. 35-42
Naciones Unidas. 1998. Un programa para el cambio. Decisiones de la cuarta reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes en el Convenio sobre Diversidad Biológica. Bratislava, Eslovaquia, 4 a 15 de mayo de 1998. UNEP/IUC/98/8.186 pp.
Naciones Unidas. 2000. Convenio sobre Diversidad Biológica. Textos y Anexos.UNEP/CBD/94/1. 41 pp.
Uruguay. Ministerio De Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial Y Medio Ambiente. 1999. Propuesta de Estrategia Nacional para a Conservación y Uso Sostenible de la Diversidad Biológica del Uruguay. Proyecto URU/96/G31 Biodiversidad Uruguay. PNUD. FMAM. Dirección Nacional de Medio Ambiente. Ed. Agropecuaria Hemisferio Sur. Montevideo.112 pp.
Uruguay. Comité Nacional Sobre Recursos Fitogeneticos. 2000. Los recursos fitogenéticos. Antecedentes y perspectivas para el país. Montevideo. Sin numeración.
| [5] Original language: Spanish Translation by: M. Robbins [6] Information from other sources was requested. |
