Presentation on Tree Diversity Day, 11 October 2012, at the 11th CBD Conference of Parties in Hyderabad, India

1. Benefits of diversifying and
restoring landscape mosaics in the
tropics by harnessing tree diversity
CBD COP11
Rio Pavilion , Hyderabad, India, 8-19 October 2012
Tree Diversity Day 11 October 2012

2. Trees: essential components of natural ecosystems,
indicators for biological diversity.
Ø The transition from forests to other land
uses in tropical areas is typically
accompanied by a landscape
simplification; but our vision in the global
research programme on Forests Trees
and Agroforestry is of tree-rich mosaic
landscapes in the tropics.

3. Trees: essential components of natural ecosystems,
indicators for biological diversity.
Ø Increased abundance and diversity of tree species –
enhanced ecosystem stability in the provision of products,
incomes, livelihoods and services.
Ø Likewise, maintaining inter and intraspecific diversity of trees
increases the resilience of forests to environmental changes.
Ø Recently developed tools and approaches based on a vision
of landscape mosaics with greater tree diversity.

4. MAPFORGEN: a tool for managing
and conserving tree diversity in
Latin America
Judy Loo, Maarten van Zonneveld, Barbara Vinceti, Evert
Thomas, Hannes Gaisberger, Riina Jalonen
Rome, Italy
COP 11 CBD Tree Diversity Day 11th October 2012

5. Background!
As many as100,000 tree species globally; "
"
Thousands are valuable for food, medicine,
fuel, timber and other purposes;"
"
More than 8000 tree species are reported
to be threatened with extinction (Global
Trees Campaign);"
"
Highest numbers of tree species by country
are in South America;"
"
Brazil alone has 7,880 tree species;
Mesoamerica , about 4000."

6. Background!
Loss of populations of tree species - an extinction
disaster that goes unnoticed; permanent loss of
genetic resources with adaptations and existing
and potential economic values that can no longer
be realised; "
"
Most tree genetic resources are conserved in situ
(wild populations) and/or circa situ (through use on
farms);"
"
To enhance conservation and sustainable use of
FGR, we need to know patterns and locations of
high or useful diversity;"
"
Information on reproductive systems and use
provides a baseline to develop conservation and
management strategies. "

7. Background!
But:!
Distribution is not known for many tree
species;"
"
Very little is known about geographic
patterns of genetic diversity to prioritize
areas for conservation;"
"
Limited understanding about reproduction
systems of many tree species. "

8. MAPFORGEN!
Evaluation of the conservation status of and threats to100
important tree species native to Latin America and the
Caribbean. "
"
Objectives:!
– Establish knowledge base on genetic resources of trees
at continental level;"
– Promote collaborations between researchers;"
– Support actions for conservation of tree populations;"
– Increase awareness of tree genetic resources."

9. Steps!
• Map observed and potential
distribution using observations from
GBIF, herbaria, genebanks; BIOCLIM
(global climate data), soils & Ecozones
(FAO); and MaxEnt (maximum entropy
modelling software); expert review"
• Overlay distribution on threat maps
developed by CIAT"
• Compile life history information
(reproductive biology, ecological
characteristics)"
• Define conservation status (in situ, ex
situ, IUCN listing, protected area
coverage)"
• Conduct spatial analysis of genetic
diversity (DIVA GIS)"
http://www.bioversityinternational.org/training/training_materials/gis_manual

11. Basic information (Annona cherimola Mill)"

12. Distribution (Annona cherimola Mill)"

13. Threats (Annona cherimola Mill)"

14. Genetic diversity studies
and mapping !
Annona cherimola!
Bactris gasipaes!
Cedrela balansae & C. lilloi!
Nothofagus nervosa & N. obliqua !
Picea chihuahuana!
Quercus humboltii!
Theobroma cacao!

15. Intra-specific diversity (Annona cherimola Mill)"
Microsatellite diversity
Van Zonneveld et al 2012. Mapping genectic diversity of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill): application of spatial analysis for conservation and use of
plant genetic resources. PloSONE

16. Practical applications!
Set conservation priorities: areas having high
diversity, high threat; unique populations.
Set restoration priorities: areas having high
genetic diversity and high ecosystem
degradation; sources for planting when local
material is lacking.
Target populations for collection of materials
for planting and breeding programmes.
Future: add field trial and genomic marker
data to data platform to improve identification
of adaptive potential.

17. Extending to other continents…!
Thank you!
• “I am myself and what is around me, and if I do not
save it, it shall not save me.”
• Jose Ortega y Gasset (1914)