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Forest trees network
Conserving forest genetic resources makes it possible to respond to fast environmental changes and changing social requirements. The issue is vital and, judging by the conferences at Rio, Strasbourg and Helsinki, governments around the world are aware of it.
France has created a national programme for managing and conserving forest tree genetic resources. It is steered by the national commission of forest genetic resources which includes public and private forest managers, administration and research. The Commission proposes the national programme's major guidelines and priorities to the Ministry in charge of Forests ; and, in liaison with the BRG, triggers off to the necessary research and coordinates the work of the management and conservation network. The network is organised into species and contributes towards implementing in situ and ex situ methods.
Priority is given to :
major gregarious or social species (oak, beech, fir...)
species dealt with under major improvement programmes (spruce, maritime pine...)
species rare or threatened in terms of survival (elm) or genetic diversity (wild Rosacaea, black poplar).
A charter for the conservation of forest tree genetic resources expresses the changing relationship between Public Authorities and players in the field today.
France is actively involved in EUFORGEN (European Forest Genetic Resources Network) for conserving genetic resources of forest trees.
The national commission of forest tree genetic resources
Missions of the commission
The Commission's job is to advise the Head of Rural Land and Forests on implementing the conservation policy for the forest genetic resources and, particularly in the following areas :
Setting up national networks conserving the genetic resources of the main forest species listed in the circular of 9th September 1991 (laying down the principles of a national policy for the conservation of forest genetic resources).
In this respect, it is instructed to :
propose the list of species involved to the Head of Rural Land and Forests along with a timetable for implementing the corresponding networks,
examine the specifications proposed for each species,
choose the populations to include in each network.
Creating a permanent inventory of forest genetic resources.
In this respect, it is instructed to :
define a methodology for identifying the genetically-threatened forest species,
propose the ways and means for creating and keeping up a permanent inventory of forest genetic resources (list of threatened species, inventories of in situ and ex situ conservation networks, etc.).
Developing new genetic-resources conservation methods. In this respect, it is instructed to :
identify the reseach needed on mechanisms maintaining the diversity of genetic resources in nature (in close relation with GIP ECOFOR).
develop a method for in situ conservation of secondary or minor forest species using representative forest ecosystem conservation units,
ensure that conservation of genetic diversity remains a priority in selection programmes.
Implementing Resolution 2 of the Strasbourg Conference on the conservation of forest genetic resources internationnally.
Exchanging and circulating information on the conservation of forest genetic resources.
In this respect, it should promote :
exchanging information between organisation on the technical and scientific policies for conserving forest genetic resources,
circulating information in the area, especially to the forest owners and managers, whether public and private
Moreover, the Head of Rural Land and Forests can call upon the commission for any aspect of forestry genetic resources conservation it deems worthwile.
National commission on forest genetic resources
The commission is composed of :
The Head of Rural Land and Forests or his representative(Ministère en charge de la Fôret : Ministry in charge of Forests),
The Head of Department of Reseach and Economic Affairs or his representative (Ministère en charge de l'Environnement :Ministry in charge of the Environment),
The Director of the Bureau des Resources Génétiques (Genetic Resource Agency), or his representative,
The Director General of the Office National des Forêts (National Forestry Agency) or his representative,
A representative of the Fédération Nationale des syndicats de propriétaires forestiers sylviculteurs. (National Federation of Syndicates of Sylviculturist Forest Owners) (nominated on the proposal of its chairman),
A representative of CEMAGREF (Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts : National Centre for Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Research) (nominated on proposal of the Head of Forestry Research Department),
A representative of the INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique : National Agronomic Research Institute) (nominated on proposal of the Head of Forestry Research Department),
A represenative of the Association Forêt Cellulose (Forest Cellulose Association) (nominated on the proposal of the Director General),
And from 5 to 8 qualified persons.
The various organisations' representatives and other qualified persons are nominated by the Head of Rural Land and Forests for renewable three-year mandates. The mandates may be terminated on the request of the person concerned, or by decision of the Head of Rural Land and Forests.
The network management actions
Management of forest species genetic resources includes the following tasks
In situ conservative management and ex situ dynamic conservation
proposing populations for in situ management,
défining and creating composite populations for ex situ dynamic conservation,
setting up experimental plots for in situ conservative management and ex situ dynamic conservation,
implementing the management specifications,
supervising and tracking the genetic variability in the system's experimental plots.
Managing the system' ex situ static conservation
creating rational collections of genetic variability,
harmonising passport data,
managing an renewing the collections of reproductive stock,
setting up and managing field collections,
supervising and evaluating the collections.
The forest trees management and conservation network is organised into species. Each corresponding sub-network is coordinated by a moderator. Some of the networks come under European projects such as EUROFEN (coordinates by the IPGRI) or are funded by the European Union (regulation1467/94 on the conservation of genetic resources) or, at times, both.
Sessil oak (Quercus petraea ) moderator : DT-ONF Orléans, INRA Bordeaux-Pierroton
web : Euforgen (Stand forming Broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Cormier (Sorbus domestica) moderator : INRA Avignon, CRPF et ONF Charentes-poitou, DRAF, ONF et CRP Service tree F Languedoc Roussillon, ONF PACA, ONF Serv.Tech.Méditerranée
web : Euforgen (Scattered broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Common spruce (Picea abies) moderator : INRA Orléans, Université Nancy
web : Euforgen (Conifers)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Wild cherry tree (Prunus avium) moderator : Cemagref Nogent-sur-Vernisson, ONF, Université Paris XI, INRA Orléans
web : Euforgen (Scattered Broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Common elm (Ulmus minor) moderator : Cemagref Nogent-sur-Vernisson, ONF Conservatoire Orléans, Université Paris XI, INRA Nancy, Pépinière de Guémené
web : Euforgen (Scattered Broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Wych elm (Ulmus glabra) moderator : Cemagref Nogent-sur-Vernisson, ONF Conservatoire Orléans, Université Paris XI, INRA Nancy, Pépinière de Guémené
web : Euforgen (Scattered Broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
European white elm (Ulmus laevis ) moderator : Cemagref Nogent-sur-Vernisson, ONF Conservatoire Orléans, Université Paris XI, INRA Nancy, Pépinière de Guémené
web : Euforgen (Scattered Broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Salzmann pine (Pinus nigra ssp.clusiana) moderator : ONF
web : Euforgen (Conifers)
Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) moderator : INRA Bordeaux
web : Euforgen (Conifers)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Black poplar (Populus nigra) moderator : INRA Avignon, Pépinière Guémemé-Penfao, Réserves Naturelles de France
web : Euforgen (Scattered Broadleaves)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
European silver firpectiné (Abies alba) moderator : DT-ONF Clermont Ferrand, INRA Avignon
web : Euforgen (Conifers)
more... : descriptive note (in french)
Tropical forest resources moderator : CIRAD Montpellier
more... : descriptive note (in french)
