Southern Research Station

Title: The Forest Genetic Resources Working Group of the North American Forestry Commission (FAO)

Author: Schmidtling, Ronald C.

Date: 2002

Source: Presented at the 26th Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference, Athens, GA, June 26-29,200l.

Description: The Forest Genetic Resources Working Group (FGRWG) is one of seven working groups established by the North American Forest Commission (NAFC). The NAFC is one of six Forest Commissions established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (F-40). The FGRWG was established by the NAFC in 1961 as the Working Group on Forest Tree Improvement but went through several-changes in names to eventually become the Forest Genetics Resources Working Group as the focus shifed to the long-term. The mission of the group is to encourage and promote conservation of all forest genetic resources. Genetic resources are threatened by many causes, most traceable to the demands of a buqeoning human population. Without careful conservation, losses of genetic resources could occur at a time when they are most needed. Protected areas are important, but transfer of forest genetic resources also may be necessary to counter environmental change and achieve sustainable development. However, support to conserve and manage these resources has been limited except for 3 few important species. Forest genetic resources can be used in traditional breeding programs or in the new biotechnologies. The advent of molecular technology makes even non-commercial species valuable for their genetic resources (e.g., Pacific yew).

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Citation

Schmidtling, Ronald C.  2002.  The Forest Genetic Resources Working Group of the North American Forestry Commission (FAO).   Presented at the 26th Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference, Athens, GA, June 26-29,200l..