Conservation strategies for forest gene resources

Abstract

Gene conservation has three facets: (1) the maintenance of diversity in production plantations to buffer against vulnerability to pests and climatic extremes; (2) the preservation of genes for their future value in breeding; (3) the protection of species to promote ecosystem stability. Maintaining diversity as a hedge against damaging agents is a simple strategy in theory. In practice, economic forces tend to favor genetic monocultures to maximize short-term gain.

Citation

Ledig, F. Thomas. 1986. Conservation strategies for forest gene resources. Forest Ecology and Management 14:77-90