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Forest gene conservation from the perspective of the international community

Informally Refereed

Abstract

conservation of forest genetic resources (FGR). After presenting internationally adopted definitions of some terms related to FGR, the characteristics of the current state of FGR conservation from a global perspective are summarized.
Many international and regional organizations and institutions are engaged in the conservation of FGR at degrees ranging from core mandate to indirect interest. Relevant actors are listed under each of the following categories: United Nations agencies and programs; the Rio Conventions; Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR); advocacy and special interest groups; discussion and policy making fora; panels of experts and data bases. This presentation outlines their mandates, modus operandi and activities as far as conservation of FGR is concerned.
Overlaps in the mandates and strategic objectives of international organization are identified in general, then illustrated using Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as examples. The need to enhance coordination and collaboration among international organizations is highlighted followed by proposals to help manage, with a view to minimize, overlaps. Potential roles for FGR conservation in the operationalization of some recent inter-institutional programs as well as inter-governmental policies and agreements such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+); and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries), sustainable development goals (SDG’s); and the Paris Agreement, are described briefly.
Finally, the presentation concludes with recommendations for the way forward towards achieving a meaningful global conservation of FGR. A list of the main literature consulted is given at the end.

Parent Publication

Citation

El-Lakany, M. Hosny. 2017. Forest gene conservation from the perspective of the international community. In: Sniezko, Richard A.; Man, Gary; Hipkins, Valerie; Woeste, Keith; Gwaze, David; Kliejunas, John T.; McTeague, Brianna A., tech. cords. 2017. Gene conservation of tree species—banking on the future. Proceedings of a workshop. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-963. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. p. 3.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/55233