BASIS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE EUROPEAN FOREST TREE GENE CONSERVATION NETWORKS

The first ministerial conference on the protection of forests in Europe, held in Strasbourg in 1990, engaged 32 signatory countries to initiate or to follow a concerted policy for forest tree gene conservation and to establish a provisional monitoring structure. This resolution has resulted in an international survey on the present status of forest tree genetic resources in Europe and relevant technical and regulatory measures. In parallel the first 4 pilot gene conservation networks concerning Norway spruce (Picea abies), Cork oak (Quercus suber), black poplar (Populus nigra) and the noble hardwoods (Rosaceaes essentially) were established. Each species or group of species represents a distinct model of spatial distribution and mating system. The second ministerial conference on the protection of forests, held in Helsinki in June 1993, has confirmed these orientations and has proposed the creation of a permanent European cooperative programme under the aegis of the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources and the forest department of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Further research is necessary on the structure of the genetic variability, the mechanisms to maintain this variability in natural forests, and management and sylvicultural methods able to generate maximum adaptability.