The Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, organized in Leipzig, Germany 17-23 June 1996 (see this number of the Forest Genetic Resources bulletin [FGR]), adopted a Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.This plan excluded consideration of forest genetic resources, ".. on the understanding that this matter could be considered in future, in the light of the work of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Forests (IPF) established by the Commission on Sustainable Development on this issue".

The need for a global plan of action for the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest genetic resources was, prior to the Leipzig Conference, discussed by the Ninth Session of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources (see this number of FGR). Based on recommendations of the Panel, and in view of the fact that forest genetic resources issues are not expected to be discussed by the IPF, a proposal will be made to the 13th Session of the Committee on Forestry (Rome 10-13 March 1997) that FAO help develop a global plan of action for forest species, to be elaborated in close collaboration and consultation with national and international partners. The main purpose of such a global plan would be to help facilitate a country-driven process to strengthen and streamline future activities in the forest genetic resources field. The work carried out in this field through the preparatory process for the Leipzig Conference and, over the years, by the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources and by national and international institutes, world-wide, provides a solid foundation for such a global plan. Readers of the present bulletin will be kept informed about developments in this regard.

The present issue of our annual news-bulletin includes a number of notes and articles from colleagues from all regions of the world, covering a range of dry-zone, humid-zone, temperate and boreal zone trees and shrubs, and topics ranging from in and ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources to institutional networking and access and safe movement of forest germplasm. The rapidly advancing developments in data base development and access to information are also referred to. In relation to the latter, readers will be pleased to note that an FAO Home Page on Forest Genetic Resources has been recently opened. The INTERNET address is:

Brief articles and notes of global interest for future issues of the yearly Forest Genetic Resources bulletin are welcome. Such articles should generally not exceed 2,000 words. The Secretariat retains the right to edit material accepted for publication. Please address correspondence to: