A Nordic perspective on challenges and needs for FGR conservation in a changing climate

Transcription

1 A Nordic perspective on challenges and needs for FGR conservation in a changing climate Tor Myking, Amsterdam 16 June 2015 Photo: A.Steffenrem

2 IPCC and forests Chapter 11: «Stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations will require largescale transformations in human societies, from the way we produce and consume energy and how we use the land surface» «The most cost-effective mitigation options in forestry are afforestation, sustainable forest management and reducing deforestation, with large differences in their relative importance across regions»

3 Challange an unbroken chain Science cooperation translation and dissemination implementation Science Relevant research questions Cooperation National borders do not follow biogeographic lineages Translation and dissemination Target groups. Best practises. Tools Implementation What is done, actually The tick off-problem

4 Some scientific challanges Adaptability Temperature increase, particularly in winter. Decreased summer precipitation Drought stress, insect attacks Spring frost damages Pace of selection and migration lags behind climate Compensated by epigenetic and phenotypic stability Genetic diversity Likely to be reduced, particularly in southern marginal and peripheral pops Solution ex-situ conservation Genetic monitoring Solutions Breeding targeted adaptation Assisted migration from south to north Diversification of species and gene pools Genetic monitoring Shorter rotations Storm throws Solution Precommercial thinning Generally larger spacing

5 Cooperation Fixed cooperation NordGen Forest Forest body of the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre Organises conferences and thematic days with emphasis on practical value Two bodies emphasising FGR and regeneration, respectively Nordic Forest Research (SNS) Nordic funding body for forest research and networking Svalbard Global Seed Vault Backup samples of seeds Project based cooperation Future Forests Swedish research program which has developed Nordic-Baltic cooperation on development of transfer functions for Scots pine and Norway spruce given different climatic scenarios Various other projects

6 Cooperation -

7 Cooperation In February 2015 the first forest tree seed lots from Nordic countries were deposited in the vault It is on the agenda of NordGen Forest to do necessary arrangements for general forest seed storage at SGSV Back up storage, primary storage to be done nationally

8 Cooperation Case: Future Forests Develop deployment recommendations for seed sources - for both current and future climate Scots pine: Mats Berlin 2014

9 Translation and dissemination Contribution from both scientists and users Making it operational e.g. web tool Case: Planter s guide (Future Forests) rsguide2normal?mobil=1

10 Suggested seed orchards under different climatic scenarios

11 Translation and dissemination Case: Questionnaire on climate change effects on Nordic forests Aim: Investigate the preparedness of Nordic forestry to climate change Disagree Agree Target groups: Breeding organisations, forest owners organisations etc in the Nordic countries Response rate: 25-55% Awareness Climate change issues are clearly recognised Preparedness Has not influenced strategic documents and guidelines correspondingly

12 Translation and dissemination Continued Disagree Agree Information deficit Scientific information is needed, lack of overarching views More information requested from letters, popular scientific journals, conferences Best practices Conclusion: Not succeeded with the translation and dissemination!

13 Implementation The most difficult part? Some critial questions How interested is the operational/management and scientific levels in each other? Mostly business as usual? Our questionnaire indicates that scientific information is deficient but how likely is it that such information is actually used? How interested is the operational level in scientific results? Tentative solutions Strong involvement of users from the beginning, e.g. in identifying research needs Responsibility and ownership: Users should have WP-leadership, not only being part of a reference group Users should be part of the project management group for strong commitment and to take part in critical decisions Overlapping responsibilities along the chain

14 Needs Research needs: Adaptative capacity Assisted migration and breeding and their interaction In situ conservation in accordance with identified gaps (EUFORGEN/ EUFGIS) Genetic monitoring Committing involvement of all partners in the chain from the beginning Relevant meeting places for all partners in the chain (not too technical) Build on existing infrastructure such as EUFORGEN, EUFGIS, NordGen Identification of bottlenecks

15 What s usually the bottleneck?? Communication Relevant research questions? Cooperation? Translation and dissemination? Implementation? Climate change Adaptive FGR measures

16 Thank you!