Meeting of the Nordic Group for the Management of Genetic Resources of Trees

 

Clonal forestry - Who are you kidding?

The meeting took place between 3^rd to 5^th September 2002 in Edinburgh.  

What was the event?

Many countries’ breeding and propagation research programmes are advancing to a stage when the use of individual tested clones, pure or in mixtures, can soon be a reality. This has to be viewed against the background of falling timber prices, continuous cover forestry and a widening interest in the use of native, predominently broadleaved species. A result of these influences is to put more pressure on native forest areas, pressure which can be relieved by making plantation forests more productive.

This meeting attempted to address a range of topics including:

• Individual country reports on the development of appropriate techniques, together with the production and utilisation of clonal material
• Developing a view of the likely further research needed and any associated timescales
• Considering what methods of production of planting stock will be most appropriate and any effects this may have on the nursery industry
• Clarifying the advantages of using clonal material in commercial forestry
• Discussing the uptake of clonal material that there is likely to be in the forest industry and what may need to be done to encourage to use of clones

Who attended?

The attendees were invited from the Nordic and Baltic countries that constitute the Nordic Group for Tree Breeding.

Programme

The structure of the meeting was an indoor session to discuss the state of clonal forestry in each country and likely techniques of production, then a day in the field to look at a mid-rotation clonal trial, followed by a further indoor session to discuss commercialisation, the benefits of clonal forestry and what needs to be done to make the process acceptable to the public.

Presentations and posters

• The state of clonal forestry, techniques and production
• Commercialisation and public acceptance
• Posters presented at the meeting

Contact

If you require further details about a specific presentation, please contact the author direct.

If you want more general information contact:

Steve Lee
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)131 445 2176
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 5124
E-mail:steve.lee@forestry.gsi.gov.uk