Conservation of
Biodiversity and Genetic Resources During 1996, CIFOR pioneered the development of a set of criteria and indicators (C&I) to assess sustainability of forest management operations in terms of conservation of genetic diversity. In collaboration with Dr. Gene Namkoong of the University of British Columbia, who leads International Forest Genetics Research Associates, a workshop was held in Indonesia in March to propose an appropriate set of C&I (see pages 35-36). This was followed by a field trial in October in Cameroon, in which the initial ideas were tested and inputs sought from international experts not involved in the original workshop. As a result of this, a system of one criterion and five indicators was proposed to assess genetic diversity. A number of new research activities were initiated including assessment of the impacts of logging in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Cameroon, and habitat fragmentation in Indonesia and Costa Rica. For all three countries surveyed (Malaysia, Thailand and India) in research on the impacts of disturbance, the laboratory analyses have been completed or are close to completion. Some very interesting results are being produced, demonstrating impacts in various situations. For example, research on Shorea siamensis in Thailand has demonstrated a threshold density below which reproductive success declines very rapidly, leading to an absence of successful regeneration (see pages 17-19). The combination of the genetics and entomology work in Thailand has been particularly fruitful, with both data sets generating mutually reinforcing conclusions. The socio-economic components of the research began in 1996 and is already well advanced in Thailand, with good progress also in India. Work on impacts of logging commenced in 1996. The Indonesian and international research partners collected nearly 800 vegetative samples and extracted DNA for further analysis. Preliminary analyses at LIPI demonstrated high levels of genetic variation. Much stronger links were also forged this year with the Institut Pertanian Bogor (Bogor Agricultural Institute) in several areas including student participation in field work and assistance to students to attend courses and workshops. In collaboration with the University of Alberta, CIFOR released its first in-house software package in 1996. POPGENE is a user-friendly, Windows©-driven package that analyses population genetics data. In contrast with previous commercial packages, POPGENE can accept data in a variety of formats, and can analyse both dominant and co-dominant genetic markers with equal ease. Most importantly, a wide range of analyses can be selected simply by clicking on desired options in a dialogue window. The same data set can therefore be analysed in a variety of ways very quickly, without the need for re-formatting data or writing program code required in other packages. POPGENE has been designed to analyse genetic data from any organism and, although just released a few months ago, is already being utilised in many laboratories around the world. POPGENE is supplied free to non-profit research laboratories in developing countries. CIFOR played a large role in the execution of the INDREX project, which is jointly led by the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and Wageningen Agricultural University (Netherlands). INDREX is examining the potential for airborne radar for forest assessment and monitoring, including the monitoring of biodiversity. Data collected during July from several areas in Jambi Province, Sumatra, are now being analysed. Research on physiological testing and molecular markers has been completed. Proposed work on mangroves was delayed and will now commence in 1997. CIFOR also helped to organise a new course on Forest Conservation Genetics offered at the Australian National University. Principal Collaborators :
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