attention. Forest biological diversity in general and forest genetic resources in particu- lar have become an integral item on the agenda of mainstream forest ...
Preface
Genetic diversity is the ultimate source of biological diversity. Genetic resources represent the useful diversity of forest trees and other living organisms with actual or potential value. The extraordinarily rich natural diversity, characteristic of most forest tree species in the world, must be conserved for the future, in order to enable sustain-
able use of the best forest resources for timber and other forest products and services. The need to better conserve forest genetic resources has been widely recognized in recent times because of the risks associated with global changes in the environment, including climate change. At the same time, the contribution of forest genetic resources to sustainable livelihoods in developing countries is receiving increasing attention. Forest biological diversity in general and forest genetic resources in particular have become an integral item on the agenda of mainstream forest policy processes, global and regional, including the Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe. To meet the demands of the future, it is essential to build the capacity of young scientists and practitioners. This is particularly the case for forest genetic resources activities. The multidisciplinary nature of these activities calls for a wide range of skills and disciplines to design and implement national plans for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic diversity in forest production systems. However, training opportunities in this area are very limited due to the lack of training materials and trainers, and to technological barriers. This book aims at providing readers with general knowledge about the biological background of forest genetic resources, and also gives insights into policy and economic issues, drawing attention to unsolved problems. Different perspectives are included that can sometimes mesh together, in the service of conservation concerns. We hope to give new forest officers, geneticists, conservationists and decision makers ideas on how to work together in the future towards common solutions, at national and international levels. Our intention has been therefore, to compile sometimes contrasting views from the theory and practice of forest genetic resources activities, rather than to provide universal solutions. We would like this book to contribute to: • increasing the capacity of young forest officers, scientists and practitioners, especially from east European countries, in the understanding, conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources; • strengthening National Forest Programmes and especially long-term national plans for the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources; and Th. eeIJurek & , . Turok (edsJ
Conservation ond MalUlgement of Forest Genetic Rewurces in Eu rope Arbonl PuIJlishers, Zoolen, 2005, i- ii, ISBN 8(}'-967088+3
.
I
• increasing the awareness of the professional and general public about the importance of fo rest genetic resources. The idea of compiling this book was 'born' in the period follow ing a pilot international training workshop on the 'Conservation and Management of Forest Genetic Resources in Eastern Europe', jointly organized by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institutes (lPGRI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) of Austria in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2001. We felt there was a need for a low-budget book on forest genetic resources activities, which could be widely distributed especially in eastern Europe. In an effort to offer further opportunities in this area, a multi-year, global coUaborative programme aimed at developing training capacity and human resources is being launched in 2005 with the fina ncial support o f the Government of Austria . We hope that this initiative wiII help to keep the momentum and that it can complement o r catalyze other initiatives with similar objectives. The finalization and printing of this book was possible thanks to the financial support provided by Austria in the framework o f the above-mentioned training programmes. The editors gratefully acknowledge the enthusiastic support and constructive suggestions made by many colleagues and friends. We would like to especially thank Ulrike Baumgartner for her never-ending technical assistance and support. The contribution of Deborah Rogers and Colin Matheson, who reviewed earUer versions of some of the man uscripts p ublished in th is book, is also gratefully acknowledged. We express our sincere tha nks to all reviewers of the manuscripts.
The editors dedicate this book to their families.
Vienna and Rome, March 2005
Thomas Geburek and Jozef Turok
(
\ ii
Table of contents
Prefa ce ............. .... . .... .... ... .... .. . . .. . .. .... .. . • . . . . . ..... 1 Table of con tents . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. .. . ILl
List of contributors List of reviewers ...
. ......... . ...... .. . ....... . ....... xix . .•. • .... • ....•.•.• XX I.Il
Chapter 1: Introduction .......... . .................. . .
. .. . ........ 1
Conse rvation and s us tainable management of forest genetic resources in Europe - an introduction (Til. Gebllrek & J. Tll rok) ........... . lntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Why shou ld we care? ............ . What is a forest genetic resource? What is forest gene tic conservation? Outlook . .................. . References .....
3 . . .... 3 4 . . .... . . . . .. . . . . . . ..• . . ... . . . . . ... ..... 5 . ................ .
6
... ... .. .... . ... .. ... . ... .. ... ... . ....
Chapter 2: Forest biodiversity - the policy, legal and eco nomic aspects . ...... . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. ... ....... Biodiversity in national forest and environmental policy (M. Pregemig) Introduction .... . ... . . . .... . . . ... .... . . .... ..... .......................... . ........ Definitions o f biodiversi ty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................... Biodiversity as a p ublic good. ....... .. . ..... (Economic) values of biod iversity.... ...... . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. ...... .... . .. Policy instruments fo r realising pri va tely appropriable values Assigning well-de fined p roperty rights .. ....... .. .... • .... . ...... Certification and ceo-labell ing schemes ....................... . ..... . ..... Policy instruments for realising p ublic values.... . . . .... . .. ... . . .. . . . . Regulatory instruments ......... . . ..............•....•........... Financial instruments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................... ................. Integra ted approaches to biodiversi ty policy TIl. Ceilli rdc & J. T"rok (eds.) COII;Sfrllo/iOIi and ManaSl'm!'HI of Forest G
