nortnwest
1 ree
BY GREG JOHNSON
T
he mission of the Northwest Tree
Improvement Cooperattve
(NWTIC) is to assist and coordinate
members in developing and manag­
ing their forest gene resources in the
Pacific Northwest. Accordingly,
NWTIC is committed to enhancing
forest productivity by:
• developing genetically improved
forest trees;
•
helping members develop and use
adapted seed for forest regeneration;
• promoting the-development and
sharing of technical information on
applied forest genetics;
Improvement cooperative the NWTIC breeding program designs.
Meta-cooperatives are2nd genera­
tion breeding programs consolidating
many1st ge11eration programs. For
instance, in Oregon there are four
Douglas-fir meta-cooperatives that have
subsumed 311st generation breeding
ul)its. Several meta-cooperatives are in
the process of forming in Washington.
The meta-cooperatives are locally
organized and administered, but receive
coordination and technical support
from NWTIC. Currently; there are five
fully functioning meta-cooperatives.
In April2000, the NWTIC will make
its latest transition. The cooperative
will move its base of operations to
Oregon State University. Tom Adams
is serving as interim director while the
coop recruits a new director. This
transition occurs just as new programs
in western redcedar, Sitka spruce, an d
grand fir are forming. NWTIC's new
challenges lie in breeding for disease
resistance, better stem form and eco­
nomically important wood properties
while increasing gains in growtl1. +
GregJohnson is chair of the Northwest
IJ-ee Improvement Cooperative. He is
a forest research coordinator for
Willamette Industries in Albany, Ore.
grams; and
• promoting and supporting Pacific Northwest Forest Tree
Gene Conser vation Group
research in applied forest genetics. NWTIC grew out of a long history
BY BRAD ST. ClAIR AND SARA UPOW
•
emphasizing the role of adequate
genetic diversity in regeneration pro­
of cooperative tree improvement i n
the Pacific Northwest. The Industrial
Forestry Association (!FA) began tree
improvement efforts in the region in
the late1950s.. Eventually their effort
grew to support several full-time staff,
and with the vision of Roy Silen at the
USFS PNW Research Station, the
Progressive Tree Improvement
Program (PTlP) was formed. The
PTIP cooperative eventually estab­
lished over 73 selection and testing
programs involving over 634 test
plantations and 2.8 million test trees.
In1985, due to a shift in business
focus, !FA could no longer support the
tree improvement program. Silen and
Mike Bordelon (currently with Oregon
Departtnent of Forestry) facilitated the
creation of a new cooperative­
NWTIC, with Jess Daniels, an inde­
pendent contractor, as the director.
Under Daniels' leadership, NWTIC
developed a 2nd generation breeding
program for western hemiock and
began the transition from1st to 2nd
generation breeding for Douglas-fir. In
contrast to the1st generation PTIP,
which defined small, geographically
narrow breeding units, the 2nd gener­
ation program is focused on expand­
ing breeding and seed deployment
boundaries. Meta-cooperattves have
taken the lead role in implementing
C
onservation of genetic diversity
has been recognized in a number
of international forums as an impor­
tant requirement of sustainable forest
management. The ability of forests to
resist pests and adapt to heteroge­
neous environments and uncertain
climatic changes depends on the
genetic diversity present within tree
species. Furthermore, the ability of
tree breeders to continue to achieve
genetic improvement objectives
depends on the maintenance of
genetic diversity.
Concerns for tile genetic aspects of
sustainable management and forest
stewardship were the impetus for a
group of forest geneticists representing
government, university and private
interests to form the Pacific Northwest
Forest Tree Gene Conservation Group
(PNWFTGCG). The ptincipal mission is
to design and promote cooperative
efforts to ensure that tlle adaptation
and evolutionary potential of important
tree species in the region is maintained.
The PNWFTGCG has adopted a
two-phase approach to gene conser­
vation. The first phase involves com­
piling data to determine the spatial
distribution of conserved genetic
resources in eight conifer species in
western Oregon and Washington.
The eiglll species were chosen
based on their ecological and eco­
nomic importance, and because they
have·been most subject to genetic
manipulation. Genetic resources
present born at their original location
(in situ) and at some other location
(ex situ) are being summarized. In
situ conservation typically implies
protection of trees in reserves where
mey can respond to natural evolu­
tionary processes. Ex situ' conserva­
tion includes seed and pollen stores,
as well as many types of plantations
of known genetic background. The
intended outcome of iliis research is
the- identification of genetic resource
"gaps," and a scientific foundation for
policy and management decision by
lar1downers about subsequent actions
mat may be warranted.
The second phase will address
approaches to resolving the gaps.
Progress to date indicates that many
species, including Douglas-fir, are well
protected in in situ reserves through­
.
out the region. In addition, the genettc
diversity of some species is well repre­
sented in ex situ collections. +
Brad St. Clair is a research geneticist
for the USDA Forest Service, Pacific
Northwest Research Station, and Sara
Lipow is a researchassociatefor
Oregon State University. Corvallis.
WESTERN FORESTER
•
MARCH/APRIL 2000 17