In situ and Ex situ Conservation of Commercial Tropical Trees - ITTO

held 11-13 June 2001 on the campus of Gadjah Mada University (GMU) inYogyakarta, Indonesia. This conference was co-sponsored by the InternationalTropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, PT.INHUTANI I-V, PERUM PERHUTANI, and the Faculty of Forestry, GMU.The conference was planned and organized as an authorized activity of theITTO-funded Project PD 16/96 Rev.4 (F), “Ex situ Conservation of Shorealeprosula and Lophopetalum multinervium and Their Use For Future Breedingand Biotechnology”.More than 110 persons from ten nations convened to share informationand to learn about conserving genetic resources of tropical trees throughoutthe tropics, with a particular focus on forests of Southeast Asia. Papers andposters covered a wide variety of topics and species, and representatives fromseveral ASEAN nations reviewed the status of genetic conservation in theircountries. There is obviously an appreciation of the importance of such programsin the region as well as a significant level of current activities aimed not only atconserving rare and endangered indigenous species, but also at supporting theselection and breeding programs necessary for sustainable commercial plantationforestry.During the conference, a new concept of genetic conservation wasdiscussed, wherein the forest is not only considered as a biophysical ecosystembut also as a “soft system” which considers and accommodates interactionsamong all levels of society within a defined forest landscape. That conceptgreatly expands the community of institutions, persons, and activities that mightinfluence or directly affect genetic conservation efforts, and especially thoseaimed at highly valued indigenous species. This concept highlights the importanceof public education in science and natural resources as well as the opportunityto involve local communities, farmers, and smaller companies in conservingtropical tree genetic resources as well as producing plant materials to complementand extend the activities of forest industries and agencies.One aim of the conference was to increase regional and pan-tropicalcooperation in research and implementation of tropical forest trees. Withcontinuing concern, interest, and support from government, industry, and theinternational forestry community, the work presented herein could form thenucleus of a center for the conservation of tropical tree genetic resources.That center could serve to coordinate and expand efforts to learn more abouttropical species’ biology, to develop strategies and systems for conservationthat also consider social and economic issues and needs, and to significantlyimprove the sustainability of both natural and planted forests in the tropics.Bart A. ThielgesCorvallis, Oregon USASeptember 20013