title: Dynamic conservation of forest genetic resources in 33 European countries.
abstract: Dynamic conservation of forest genetic resources (FGR) means maintaining the genetic diversity of trees within an evolutionary process and allowing generation turnover in the forest. We assessed the network of forests areas managed for the dynamic conservation of FGR (conservation units) across Europe (33 countries). On the basis of information available in the European Information System on FGR (EUFGIS Portal), species distribution maps, and environmental stratification of the continent, we developed ecogeographic indicators, a marginality index, and demographic indicators to assess and monitor forest conservation efforts. The pan-European network has 1967 conservation units, 2737 populations of target trees, and 86 species of target trees. We detected a poor coincidence between FGR conservation and other biodiversity conservation objectives within this network. We identified 2 complementary strategies: a species-oriented strategy in which national conservation networks are specifically designed for key target species and a site-oriented strategy in which multiple-target units include so-called secondary species conserved within a few sites. The network is highly unbalanced in terms of species representation, and 7 key target species are conserved in 60% of the conservation units. We performed specific gap analyses for 11 tree species, including assessment of ecogeographic, demographic, and genetic criteria. For each species, we identified gaps, particularly in the marginal parts of their distribution range, and found multiple redundant conservation units in other areas. The Mediterranean forests and to a lesser extent the boreal forests are underrepresented. Monitoring the conservation efficiency of each unit remains challenging; however, <2% of the conserved populations seem to be at risk of extinction. On the basis of our results, we recommend combining species-oriented and site-oriented strategies.
authors.affiliation: INRA, Ecologie des Forêts Méditerranéenne, URF, Domaine St Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France. francois.lefevre@avignon.inra.fr
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.forename: Jarkko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: Hojka
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authors.lastname: Kraigher
authors.forename: Roman
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authors.lastname: Longauer
authors.forename: Ditte C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Olrik
authors.forename: Silvio
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authors.lastname: Schüler
authors.forename: Michele
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authors.lastname: Bozzano
authors.forename: Paraskevi
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authors.lastname: Alizoti
authors.forename: Remigijus
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authors.lastname: Bakys
authors.forename: Cathleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Dalibor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ballian
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Black-Samuelsson
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bednarova
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bordács
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Cuyper
authors.forename: Sven M G
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Thröstur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eysteinsson
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frýdl
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haverkamp
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivankovic
authors.forename: Heino
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.forename: Czesław
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koziol
authors.forename: Tiit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maaten
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Notivol Paino
authors.forename: Hikmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Ivanova Denitsa
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Pandeva
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parnuta
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilipovič
authors.forename: Dragos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Postolache
authors.forename: Cathal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steffenrem
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vessella
authors.forename: Roman T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Volosyanchuk
authors.forename: Marjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westergren
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wolter
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yrjänä
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zariŋa
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D014644:Genetic Variation; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees / Q000235:genetics*