Presentation made by Thomas Dietl representing Internation Seed Federation's Tree and Shrub Seed Group at the OECD working group on Forest Reproductive Material Regulation.

1. Use of FRM
Provenance policies
and climate change
April 2012
Thomas Dietl, Montaraz Group

2. International tree seed trade
Historically tree seed traded for many centuries across
borders
Evidence: early 1600’s in Europe & 1700’s US ↔ EU
(Picea, Pinus & other species)
Concl: All major countries have international tree seed
provenances in their territories.

3. International trend – regulated FRM
 First EU regulation 89 objective: certify genetic quality
in order increase production of forests. (17 spcs)
 Further EU and OECD regulations: warrant trueness
on name, origin and genetic quality, in order facilitate
international trade (47 spcs EU, + 25 some countries)
 Actually discussion even on shrub species
 BASIC MATERAIL: no international definition about the
criteria for determinate source identified
 One of the most controlled and regulated seed
market, but open to interpretation

4. Provenance policy
Recent policy change: countries requiring national and
even local provenance for reforestation and use
 Countries take decision on use of FRM mainly on
political & market arguments without scientific
criteria
 Local provenance = short term thinking
 Examples showing that in some cases foreign
provenances better for future forest (in light of
climate change)

5. Provenance trials
 Seeds from different provenances tested for their
performance
 Results show that foreign provenances may be as good
or even better than national
 Supply problems in some regions or countries – after
natural disaster or dried conditions

6. Provenance trials

7. Climate Change & effect on forests
Many report on effects of climate change on forests
• “Forests are particularly sensitive to climate change, because
the long life-span of trees does not allow for rapid adaptation
to environmental changes.” [EU report 2008]
• “Climate change effects on forests are likely to include changes
in forest health and productivity and changes in the geographic
range of certain tree species”[IPCC report 2007]
• “In general it is expected that habitats will shift towards the
poles and move upwards in elevation. With the shift of these
habitats, forest biodiversity will be forced to adapt and as a
result species compositions in forests is likely to change and
those species and populations which are already vulnerable
will potentially become extinct” [CBD ]

8. USDA report on Climate Change &
forest diseases (April 2012)
Key findings include:
 Armillaria root disease is projected to result in the greatest risk
under drought (warmer and drier) conditions. Armillaria is
common on conifers and some hardwoods; it lives on tree roots
and grows exponentially when a tree becomes stressed.
 Yellow-cedar decline, Cytospora canker on Aspen and dwarf
mistletoes also pose high risk under drought conditions.
 Sudden oak death and other Phytophthora tree diseases are
likely to be most damaging under wetter and warmer
conditions. These deadly pathogens reproduce and spread
quickly under favorable moist and warm conditions
Full report, "A Risk Assessment of Climate Change and the Impact of Forest
Diseases on Forest Ecosystems in the Western United States and Canada," go
to: http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/psw_gtr236/

9. G
Climate
Change is
showing its
effects:
causing two
generations
of pine
beetle per
year.

10. ISF proposal of new WG activity
 OECD stands for promotion of free international trade
 Defend the recommendation of use attending to
scientific criteria
 Collect information of actual and historic provenance
trails WW
 Promote research programs on provenances
 Promote the establishing transnational regions & use
of FRM based on scientific evidence

11. More information:
www.worldseed.org
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