Strategies for genetic conservation of trees in the Peruvian Amazon

Forestry practices and high rates of land clearance for agriculture are cau sing genetic erosion of valuable tree species in the Peruvian Amazon, there by endangering the economic sustainability of rural communities and limitin g Peru's opportunities for the development of new timber and non-timber for est products. The potential utility and limitations of six low-input interv entions to help forestall further genetic erosion in the region are discuss ed, with a focus on local community involvement. Improved agroforestry syst ems may help reduce deforestation by increasing farm productivity, although methods to increase the currently low adoption rate of these technologies need to be developed. Use of strategic tree domestication techniques can al so improve farm productivity and prevent inadvertent genetic drift and inbr eeding associated with traditional domestication practices, although to hav e a major impact, current programs need to be extended across the region. W oodlot forestry could supplant selective extraction of timber and offers an attractive opportunity for poverty alleviation if appropriate credit and l and tenure policies can be developed. However, it may also result in increa sed deforestation if activities on public land cannot be controlled. The im plementation of improved seed collection systems and simple seed transfer g uidelines would help to reduce the collection of seed of poor quality and l ow genetic diversity, and avoid maladapted plantings, although such program s are difficult to monitor and seed costs may increase. Strategic identific ation and design of in situ conservation areas would help to ensure the via bility of conserved populations, but requires the forfeiture of significant revenue from timber concessions.