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

154Selected species will not only survive and thrive on the site, but willalso yield the wood or other benefits at some optimum rate. The nature ofbotanical gardens and arboreta as institutions and collections of living plantsremains essentially unchanged. On the other hand, developments in genetics,cytology, ex situ conservation, breeding, and biotechnology have been largelyresponsible for the changes that have occurred. But, unfortunately, there hasbeen some resistance to this change. Most silviculturists and tree breedersnow use numerous approaches to problem solving, such as in introducing andtesting new species.Wright (1976) observed that the procedures and designs used to testexotics are the same as those used in the study of individual tree inheritanceand racial variation. In this regard, exotic testing should be done in two or threestages. The first preliminary test should include several scattered plantationson different soil types and with different climates, with a few blocks perplantation. These first tests may well include a few hundred seed lots of severaldifferent species. The second stage tests should concentrate on those races orspecies that grow best in the first-stage tests. There should be more replication,perhaps at each test site, and observations should be concentrated on individualtree variation. The third-stage trials consist of pilot-scale commercial plantationsdesigned primarily to assess production potential.To connect the first era to the second, under the requirements asdescribed earlier, Oemi Hani’in Suseno and Jonathan W. Wright initiated a treeimprovement program for Indonesia. This activity will be discussed under theSecond Era, and more specific information will be provided by Oemi Hani’ inSuseno in the Section on Tree Improvement.The Second Era: Initial Tree Breeding/Tree ImprovementThe Indonesian plantation programs during the 1970’s offered one of the majorstrategies to halt the process of tropical deforestation and to meet future demandsfor wood. Forest plantation development activities may be speeded up whensuccessful genetic improvement is conducted. It is necessary to use qualityseedlings with high growth potential and adequate adaptation to plantation sites.For example, Kjaer and Suangtho (1997) estimated that seedlings from classifiedseed stands will yield at least 8 % higher value production than seedlings fromunclassified seed sources.Teak provenance trials in Indonesia were introduced in 1932 (Coster& Eidman 1934). Activities basically comprised comparison of trees derivedfrom seed of different origins throughout the whole range of teak (8 provenancesof India, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Laos; 4 provenances of Java, andone provenance of Muna). But while these provenance trials were introduced