Ultimate responsibility for the conservation of forest gene resources in a country, particularly conservation in situ, must rest with the people and government of that country. Circumstances vary enormously from country to country. Nevertheless, action in one country can both inform and stimulate similar efforts in other countries, and accounts of national progress in forest gene resources conservation should therefore form an important part of an international newsletter such as F.G.R.I.
An excellent example of national effort in this direction is contained in the report of the Symposium on the Conservation of Forest Gene Resources which constitutes part 2 of the Proceedings of the thirteenth meeting of the Committee on Forest Tree Breeding in Canada (24 – 27 August 1971)1. The purposes of the symposium were “to bring together knowledgeable people from several related fields to discuss gene conservation, to provide members of the CFTBC with the background knowledge necessary for them to decide what role, if any, the Committee should play in this field; and how this role, if accepted, can be implemented”.
The report contains a series of excellent papers on conservation of forest gene resources. The list of authors and titles is as follows:
| PAPERS | ||
| Tibor Rejhathy | Resource gene pools and their conservation | |
| Bruce Zobel | Gene preservation by means of a tree improvement program | |
| C.W. Yeatman | Gene conservation in relation to forestry practice | |
| B.S.P. Wang | The role of forest tree seed storage in gene conservation | |
| Gilles Lemieux | Conservation of forest gene resources within IBP framework | |
| C.F. Weetman | The Canadian Institute of Forestry program on natural areas | |
| J.S. Maini | Conservation of forest tree gene resources: An ecological perspective | |
| R.T. Franson, D.G. McCrea and E.B. Peterson | Legal and regulatory aspects of gene pool maintenance in ecological reserves | |
| Max Hagman | The Finnish standard stands for forestry research | |
Of particular interest are the policy statement in appendix 1, the list of eastern Canadian tree species by their economic significance and genetic priority in appendix 2, and the note on endangered arboreal germ plasm in Canada in appendix 3. These are reproduced in full below.
Copies of the report are available from:
Mr. K. Illingworth, Executive Secretary
Committee on Forest Tree Breeding in Canada
British Columbia Forest Service
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
APPENDIX 1
COMMITTEE ON FOREST TREE BREEDING IN CANADA STATEMENT ON CONSERVATION OF FOREST GENES
No Canadian tree species is, at present, in danger of extinction. However, some populations of valuable species are endangered to a point where serious gene depauperization may result. These populations should be protected in situ or, where this is not possible ex situ.
Canada contains about 2 million square kilometers of productive forest land. It is projected that man-made forests will make up less than 2% of Canada's productive forests by 1985. It is evident, that only under exceptional circumstances will contamination of the native arboreal flora by non-native species or populations pose serious problems.
A few exceptionally valuable tree populations have been identified as a result of, or in conjunction with, forest genetic studies. Identification of more of these populations can be expected in the future. These populations should be protected in situ and steps should be taken to assure that these populations are perpetuated. Unfortunately the means of perpetuation, especially of competition-intolerant species, now conflict with the policies of most preservation and conservation programmes (e.g. National Parks, International Biological Programme-CT and the proposed Canadian Institute of Forestry Natural Forested Areas programmes). Efforts should be made to eliminate this conflict.
The C.F.T.B.C. supports in principle the proposed C.I.F. Natural Forested Areas proposal. This programme, if acted upon, with the IBP-CT and National Parks programmes will contribute to the preservation and conservation of a wide array of forest gene resources in situ. It would be undesirable for the C.F.T.B.C. to undertake a separate programme for the preservation of such natural populations.
Where specific populations of trees are recognized as being endangered, or are recognized as being of special interest in tree improvement, efforts should be made to assure their continued existence. The federal and provincial governments should be urged to take whatever action is necessary to protect such populations.
The C.F.T.B.C. will establish a standing Working Party called the “Working Party for the Conservation of Endangered Arboreal Germ Plasm”. The duties of the Working Party will be as follows:
to monitor the status of Canadian arboreal species and to identify which species or populations are endangered;
to report biennially to the C.F.T.B.C. on the existence of unprotected endangered populations; and
to recommend to the C.F.T.B.C. appropriate action to provide protection for endangered species or populations.
Tree breeding and forest genetic programmes play a major role in the ex situ conservation of valuable genetic materials (e.g. provenance tests, progeny tests, seed orchards, and breeding gardens). All tree breeders should recognize their responsibilities in regard to conservation of endangered populations. Where practical, the conservation or preservation of such populations should be considered as a part of tree improvement programmes.
Seed banks (and possibly in the future, pollen banks) offer a relatively inexpensive means of preserving genetic material ex situ. Using existing techniques, seed of some tree species can be stored for 25 to 30 years without serious loss of viability. It is probable that, under optimum storage conditions, some tree seeds could be stored successfully for 50 to 100 years or more. The C.F.T.B.C. urges that greater effort be placed on research in this field.
APPENDIX 2
A list of Eastern Canadian Tree Species by their Economic Significance and Genetic Priority: (Form B.S.P. Wang, C.W. Yeatman and E.K. Morgenstern, personal communication.)
| 1. | Commercially Significant Species (Consumptive Forestry) | |||||
| A | B | C | D | E | ||
| Picea glauca | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| P. mariana | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||
| P. rubens | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Pinus strobus | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| P. resinosa | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||
| P. banksiana | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Larix laricina | 3 | 2 | ||||
| Acer saccharinum | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Carya ovata | 1 | 1 | ||||
| C. cordiformis | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Juglans cinerea | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||
| J. nigra | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Castanea dentata | 3 | 2 | ||||
| Betula alleghaniensis | 1 | 1 | ||||
| B. papyrifera | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Quercus alba | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Q. macrocarpa | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Fagus grandifolia | 3 | |||||
| Ulmus americana | 1 | 1 | ||||
| U. thomasii | 3 | |||||
| Prunus serotina | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Fraxinus americana | 3 | |||||
| Tilia americana | 3 | |||||
| Platanus occidentalis | 3 | |||||
| 2. | Horticulturally and Ornamentally Significant Species | |||||
| Juniperus virginiana | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Celtis occidentalis | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Magnolia acuminata | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Liriodendron tulipifera | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Asimina triloba | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Prunus nigra | 2 | 3 | ||||
| P. americana | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Gleditsia triacanthos | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Gymnocladus dioicus | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Ptelea trifoliata | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Rhus typhina | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 3. | Botanically Significant Species | |||||
| Pinus rigida | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Carya glabra | 2 | 3 | ||||
| C. laciniosa | 2 | 3 | ||||
| C. tomentosa | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Betula populifolia | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Quercus bicolor | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Q. muehlenbergii | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Q. palustris | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Ulmus rubra | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Acer nigrum | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Nyssa sylvatica | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Fraxinus quadrangulata | 2 | 3 | ||||
B. Genetic Exploration — Population genetics and potential for selection and breeding.
C. Utilization — Taking advantage of genetic information already available.
Priority ranking within each class is the same as described by FAO (1969) except priority 1 included work already underway.
APPENDIX 3
ENDANGERED ARBOREAL GERM PLASM IN CANADA
(From D.P. Fowler, personal communication)
The following list of “Endangered Arboreal Germ Plasm” in Canada was prepared for the North American Forestry Commission in 1968:
Pinus rigida. This species is found as a northern outlier in two locations in Canada, Leeds County, Ont. and Chateauguay County, P.Q. The populations are not abundant in either area and are not well represented in plantings elsewhere.
Pseudotsuga menziesii. Scattered populations of this species are found in the montane spruce forest near Prince George, B.C. These northern outlier populations are not well represented in plantings or germ-plasm banks.
Picea glauca. Vigorous northern outlier populations of this species are found scattered across northern Canada. Some of these populations are in danger of extinction or serious gene depauperation because of inadequate protection from fire and cutting. These populations are not adequately represented in plantings or germ-plasm banks.
A number of arboreal angiosperms typical of the Carolinian zone flora occur in southern Ontario. In several instances these populations are the most northern representatives of species common in the United States. As such they may be of further value to hardwood tree improvement programmes. Changes in land use have resulted in serious degradation and probably gene depauperation of many of these populations. Very few, if any, of these populations are adequately protected or are represented in germplasm banks. Populations of species in the following genera are considered to be in danger: Asimina, Betula, Carya, Castanea, Celtis, Fraxinus, Liriodendron, Magnolia, Morus, Nyssa, Plantanus, Ptelea, Quercus, and Ulmus.
To date, no further additions have been made to this list, although it is probable that as more information becomes available additional populations, or even species may be added. The Canadian Forestry Service has undertaken a programme of seed collection, propagation, and distribution of the Pinus rigida and Pseudotsuga menziesii populations on the above list. In addition some effort is being expended on preserving northern outlier populations of Picea glauca. The problems involved with conservation germ plasm of the Carolinian angiosperms are more complex and as yet have not been solved.
