The Fourth International Technical Conference On Plant Genetic Resources For Food And Agriculture (Leipzig, Germany, 17 -23 June 1996) adopted a Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture which states in its introduction: "Forestry will not be included in the Global Plan of Action,... on the understanding that this matter could be considered in future, in the light of the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests established by the Commission on Sustainable Development on this issue". This note provides information on activities in the conservation and use of forest genetic resources in preparation of the Leipzig conference, and proposes country-driven action to be undertaken in a process aimed at the preparation of a Global Plan of Action on Forest Genetic Resources.

EVOLUTION OF FAO'S WORK IN THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES

Forest genetic resources, the diversity present in the thousands of useful tree species on Earth, constitute an inter-generational resource of vast social, economic and environmental importance. Major threats to the integrity of forest genetic resources include deforestation and changes in land use, inappropriate timber and wood harvesting practices as well as the often uncontrolled and undocumented movement of forest germplasm. Conservation of forest genetic resources is a subject of major national and international concern.

Most forest tree species are characterized by extensive natural ranges and inherently high levels of diversity, and they often occur in more than one country. In such cases, international cooperation is a prerequisite for their effective conservation, collection, evaluation and wise utilization. The first internationally coordinated provenance (seed source) trials, which were aimed at exploring, conserving and better utilizing the genetic variation in forest trees, were initiated more than 50 years ago under the overall coordination of the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO). This pioneering work was focused on economically important tree species of the temperate and boreal zones. In response to a growing demand in forestry and agroforestry development world-wide and an increased awareness of the importance and potential of genetic variation occurring within forest tree species, such activities were progressively extended to other tree and shrub species occurring in other ecological regions and covering a wide range of end uses and functions.

The work of FAO in the field of forest genetic resources relates specifically to technical and scientific support to national institutes in member countries in all aspects of the conservation, management and development of forest genetic resources, the focus being on species of actual or potential socio-economic value. Activities also include the dissemination of information and the transfer of technologies and know-how among countries through networking and twinning, in collaboration with concerned national and international partners.

The FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources was established in 1968 at the request of the FAO Conference, with a mandate to: (1) review work carried out in the field of forest genetic resources, world-wide; (2) discuss priorities for action at national, regional, eco-regional and global levels based on up-to-date information received from member countries; and (3) guided by such information, to make recommendations on the main focus and operational priorities of FAO, with due concern to collaboration, complementarity and coordination of programs and activities with other international organizations in the field. Based on information made available to it by countries and international organizations, the FAO Panel regularly compiles and up-dates regional lists of priority tree species, specifying their main uses, and ranking the corresponding priorities for action in exploration, collection, conservation and use of their genetic resources (including improvement and breeding). While the priority lists are based on country-derived information, special attention is paid to those species which are of actual or potential importance to more than one country and, thus, for which action has an international dimension. In response to recommendations by the Panel, the Forestry Department has been active, since the early 1980's, in developing and advancing methodologies for in situ conservation of forest genetic resources. FAO, in collaboration with the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), is presently developing a practical, step-by-step guide for in situ conservation of forest genetic resources for use by forest managers and planners.

The members of the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources come from all regions of the world and cover a broad range of technical and scientific areas within the field of forest genetic resources. The work of the Panel is supported by a network of national institutions which provide the Panel and its Secretariat with basic information on activities and priorities on a continuing basis. The competence of the Panel and its impartiality are globally recognized. A range of national and international institutions and donor agencies closely follow the deliberations of the FAO Panel, and its recommendations are widely used by them to guide action in this field.

Guided by its member countries and by the FAO Panel, FAO has over the past 30 years catalyzed action in the forest genetic resources field and, through collaboration with national institutes and with its international partners, supported countries in the exploration, conservation and better utilization of these valuable resources. In addition to the normative work of FAO in forest genetic resources, some of which has been outlined above, the Organization has collaborated directly with countries through some 60 technical assistance projects over the past three years in support of institutions involved in regional and eco-regional coordination of seed collection, production, handling and exchange; tree improvement and breeding; conservation of ecosystems and of forest genetic resources in and ex situ; and the integration of genetic conservation aspects into forest management practice.

FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES IN PREPARATION FOR THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (LEIPZIG, GERMANY, JUNE 1996)

The Fourth International Technical Conference , organized within the framework of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, based its deliberations on two main reports: the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources and the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. These documents were based on Country Reports and information gained through the organization of a number of regional plant genetic resources workshops which focused largely, but not exclusively, on crop species. In addition to contributing to the regional plant genetic resources workshops, FAO's Forestry Department collaborated in the organization of three international workshops on forest genetic resources organized in support of preparations for the Fourth International Technical Conference. These dealt with: (i) Boreal Zone Forest Genetic Resources (main organizer, the Canadian Forest Service); (ii) North American Temperate Forest Genetic Resources (main organizer, the US Forest Service, within the framework of the FAO North American Forestry Commission); and (iii) European Forest Genetic Resources (main organizer, IPGRI, within the framework of the EUFORGEN Network). In addition to providing specific information on forest genetic resources activities and priorities in the regions covered, these workshops contributed useful experience and provided possible "models" for discussing issues related to forest genetic resources in other ecological regions of the world.

Based on information gained through the above mechanisms and through a questionnaire on forest genetic resources sent to all FAO member countries, a Global Information System on Forest Genetic Resources (REFORGEN) is presently under development by the FAO Forestry Department. It is planned to regularly up-date data contained in the information system using mechanisms available to FAO, such as the Regional Forestry Commissions, and through periodic despatch to countries concerned of available information for review.

A GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES

The need for a global plan of action focused on forest genetic resources was discussed at the Fourth International Technical Conference. The work done in preparation of the Conference and, over the years, by the FAO Panel of Experts on Forest Gene Resources provides a solid foundation for such a plan.

A global plan of action should facilitate a country-driven process to further elaborate on work already done, and be carried out in close collaboration and consultation with national and international partners. This will involve the organization of additional and complementary, regional and eco-regional workshops on forest genetic resources, as well as the gathering, evaluation and analysis of information from all available sources on the status and priorities in forest genetic resources activities at national, regional and international levels.