Forest Biotechnology Futures
The contribution of forest biotechnology to the future of our global forests is explored. Questions relating to how forest biotechnology can most appropriately fully contribute to achieving sustainable development goals in the light of REDD + and the Unit
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Abstract The contribution of forest biotechnology to the future of our global forests is explored. Questions relating to how forest biotechnology can most appropriately fully contribute to achieving sustainable development goals in the light of REDD + and the United Nations Rio + 20 developments are raised. Opportunities for international support for preservation of old growth forest areas, whilst allowing for other areas to be semi-managed, or used for high density plantation forestry are discussed. The role of ‘trees of technology’ using modified practices or genetic components in tree breeding are described, with reference to future energy, pulp, food and construction uses. The crucial role of biotechnology in conserving forest biodiversity and uniquely valuable tree genotypes is evaluated. The current and future potential for leading edge biotechnological breakthroughs in manipulating rapid growth, extending geographical ranges, developmental control of flowering, carbohydrate commitment, ‘omics technologies and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses are explored. The ability of forest biotechnology to contribute to delivering economic, societal and environmental benefits globally is discussed.
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Introduction
The 1995 Convention on Biodiversity defines biotechnology as ‘any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use’. Any products or processes derived from trees or other forest ecosystem organisms may therefore usefully be considered as forest biotechnology. The longevity of trees, frequently including an extensive juvenile phase and their size relative to almost all other organisms has
K.M.A. Gartland (*) • J.S. Gartland Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK e-mail: [email protected] T. Fenning (ed.), Challenges and Opportunities for the World’s Forests in the 21st Century, Forestry Sciences 81, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7076-8_23, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
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made trees important features of humankind’s development through a wide range of uses, from shade to fuel, from fibres to heritage conservation and from construction materials to pharmaceuticals. As yet, we are only really beginning to domesticate trees, a process which lags many hundreds of generations behind that of annual crop plants. The various forms of biotechnology provide a wide range of tools both to harness the genetic diversity of tree form and function for economic benefit and to conserve trees of significance, to protect biodiversity, for leisure, heritage or wellbeing purposes. Forests cover >30 % of the Earth’s land area, providing in excess of 3.4 billion m3 of harvested wood annually (Fenning and Gartland 2007). Few groups of plants provoke such strong emotions as trees, reflecting their importance to the development of humankind and our anthropogenic effects on the environment. Whilst there is general agreement on the need to use resou
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