Half of the forest species – trees, shrubs, palms and bamboo – routinely used by countries around the world are threatened by climate change, over-exploitation and encroachment by pastures and farmland, said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. FAO called for action to safeguard the genetic diversity of forests as part of issuing its first report on the topic. The report covers 8,000 species, one-tenth or one-twelveth of the tree species in the world. Some 2,400 species are actively managed, says FAO.
Sustainable management will be discussed during a meeting from June 23-27 of FAO’s Committee on Forestry. Genetic diversity allows breeders to improve the yield and quality of forest species and to adapt to climate change, pests and disease.