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Abstract: The genetic diversity of forest trees, as provided by Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) and being the basis for the production of Forest Reproductive Material (FRM), is fundamental for maintaining forest resilience, adaptability, health, productivity, and biological diversity. Despite their importance, stakeholder governance of genetic diversity remains under-studied. This study aims to address this gap by mapping the forest stakeholder landscape FGR governance. Using the Quadruple Helix Approach, we categorised stakeholders into academia, industry, government, and civil society identifying relevant sub-communities. The mapping process involved iterative revisions through expert consultations, workshops, and literature scoping. Results show that the FGR sub-community is situated between strict conservation efforts and applied forestry, supporting both genetic conservation and productive forest management. The FRM sub-community, dealing specifically with the production and deployment of FRM, prioritises tree breeding, seed production, and afforestation/reforestation programmes. Meanwhile, the Protected Forests (PF) sub-community focuses on strict nature conservation, advocating minimal human intervention while facing pressures from resource extraction, tourism, and land-use conflicts. The diverging attitudes and values of close-to-nature forest management, intensive forestry, and strict protections, respectively, exist within same stakeholder groups, as well as among different ones, and are spanning all sub-communities. The study uncovers key tensions such as competing land-use priorities between forestry, agriculture, infrastructure and energy sectors, limited flow of knowledge between stakeholder categories and governance misalignments between local, national, and international regulations. The findings are particularly relevant for policymakers, forest managers, forest nurseries, conservation organisations, and industry stakeholders to balance conservation with sustainable forest utilisation. By integrating stakeholder perspectives and highlighting key governance challenges, this study shows where a common ground can be found and where divergent opinions are strong, opening the way for more integrated strategies and policies
Keywords: natural resource governance, actors' identification, social-ecological systems, quadruple helix approach, forestry, forest management, biodiversity conservation
Published in DiRROS: 24.06.2025; Views: 559; Downloads: 466
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Abstract: Rapid human-induced environmental changes like climate warming represent a challenge for forest ecosystems. Due to their biological complexity and the long generation time of their keystone tree species, genetic adaptation in these ecosystems might not be fast enough to keep track with conditions changing at such a fast pace. The study of adaptation to environmental change and its genetic mechanisms is therefore key for ensuring a sustainable support and management of forests. The 4-day conference of the European Research Group EvolTree (https://www.evoltree.eu) on the topic of “Genomics and Adaptation in Forest Ecosystems” brought together over 130 scientists to present and discuss the latest developments and findings in forest evolutionary research. Genomic studies in forest trees have long been hampered by the lack of high-quality genomics resources and affordable genotyping methods. This has dramatically changed in the last few years; the conference impressively showed how such tools are now being applied to study past demography, adaptation and interactions with associated organisms. Moreover, genomic studies are now finally also entering the world of conservation and forest management, for example by measuring the value or cost of interspecific hybridization and introgression, assessing the vulnerability of species and populations to future change, or accurately delineating evolutionary significant units. The newly launched conference series of EvolTree will hopefully play a key role in the exchange and synthesis of such important investigations.
Keywords: gene conservation, genetic diversity, local adaptation, pathogens, selection, mycorrhizal fungi
Published in DiRROS: 18.02.2022; Views: 1711; Downloads: 1163
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