Synthesis Report: Forest Genetic Resources in the EU

Conservation of forest genetic resources has always been an integral part of tree improvement programs. However threats to FGR, such as habitat destruction, fragmentation, pollution, the use of low quality forest reproductive material and climate change have increased in the past decades and with it the need to maintain FGR. During the past two decades several policy instruments and initiatives have contributed to the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources at both global and European level. The First Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE), held in Strasbourg in 1990, addressed the importance of conserving forest genetic resources (Strasbourg Resolution 2). EUFORGEN was established in October 1994 as an implementation mechanism of Strasbourg Resolution S2 (Conservation of forest genetic resources) of this first FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference. Recently, the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture prepared the First State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. Based on the findings of this report the Global Plan of Action for the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources (GPA-FGR) was adopted, which identifies strategic priorities for action for conservation and sustainable use of FGR at the international, regional and national level.