A complementary strategy for the conservation of native forest tree species: retrieval and conservation of threatened ecotypes

Abstract

Deforestation has become rampant in recent years in Brazil and has affected all biomes where many
species are threatened to extinction due to destruction natural habitats. Government initiatives to hinder the
chain of destruction include two main lines of action: to establish conservation units (parks, reserves and
others); and programs to encourage plantation of native tree species for reclamation of degraded ecosystems, restoration of forests on permanent protection areas (riparian, and steep slope environments), and establishment of "legal reserves" (a mandatory forest reserve on at least 20% of the land area). Conservation units are effective
in conserving natural ecosystems. However, they are of limited value for the conservation of ecotypes, since
their effectiveness is restricted to within their physical boundaries. Since the majority of ecotypes with critical
adaptive value are found outside the conservation units, complementary measures to encompass these variants are needed. The most promising strategy includes active participation of rural land owners, especially small land holders, since they are settled throughout the country (outside the conservation units). An important aspect of the strategy is to prevent movement of seeds and seedlings over great distances from their origins so that their adaptive traits to specific sites are preserved.