JAPANESE TREE IMPROVEMENT AND FOREST GENETICS

Scientific information on the management of forest genetic resources i s one commodity that should be freely exchanged among nations. America n foresters and breeders can learn much about the benefits and risks o f clonal plantations from the Japanese, who have a long history of veg etative propagation techniques and tree improvement programs despite t he high cost of management and the reliance on imported wood. Conserva tion of genetic resources of indigenous forest species is also importa nt in Japan, and excellent research in all forestry disciplines contin ues.