Conservation of Forest Gene Resources—Australia's Responsibilities

SUMMARY

Forestry is still in a position to exploit a wide diversity of gene pools as most of the world forests are wild populations. This diversity is being lost as forests are cleared for urban and agricultural development or denuded by fires or disease. In recent years attention has been focused on the need to conserve this heritage of germ plasm and a number of international agencies are active in this endeavour. Australia must become more aware of the consequences of land use practice and make provision for gene conservation in forest land use decisions. Many species and provenances of species of Eucalyptus are of great importance to countries other than Australia and provision should be made wherever possible for the conservation of the native gene pools in situ.

The part Australia might play in the conservation of gene resources of exotic species, particularly some sub-tropical conifers of interest to the Pacific region, is discussed.