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Tree Genes Initiative: Accelerating Stress-Adapted Trees

The Tree Genes Initiative (TGI) is working to accelerate the research, growth, deployment, and management of stress-adapted trees by addressing gaps in innovation, policies, and markets. Join the initiative to help protect our forests from threats such as changing climates and invasive pests.

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Tree Genes Initiative: Accelerating Stress-Adapted Trees

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  1. Tree Genes Initiative TGI Endeavors to Accelerate Stress-Adapted Trees TGI is made possible by support from the U.S. Forest Service

  2. TreeGenesInitiative Why we need stress-adapted trees TGI overview 8 gaps & initial recommendations Expected outcome How you can help

  3. Some of our Forests are Under Threat • Changing climates • ~5 KM/yr ecoregion shift >>> ½ KM/yr tree natural migration rate • Warmer winters allowing native and invasive pests to thrive • Pests • More travel, more shipping, more invasives • 10,400,000 forest acres damaged in 2014 • Fragmentation • 232,000,000 HA lost to houses, roads, malls, etc. by 2050 • 13,000,000 HA converted to agriculture and grazing per year The scale, risk, & cost of inaction is MASSIVE USFS FHTET National Insect & Disease Risk Map 2013-2027

  4. Prediction: More Demands on Forests  Forest2Market Union of Concerned Scientists report: Planting for the Future  

  5. TGI – Accelerating Stress-Adapted Trees TGI is a consortium engaged in the research, growth, deployment, and management of stress-adapted trees. • What are stress-adapted trees? • Trees bred with greater resistance to pests, diseases, drought, salinity, moisture, and temperature extremes • What is TGI Doing? • Bringing experts together • Identifying gaps • Making recommendations • Communicating results • Isn’t this being done? • No. Efforts are fragmented. TGI Provides a unified voice Mountain pine beetle damageDezene Huber, Univ. Northern British Columbia

  6. TGI Structure All points along the Research  Growth  Stewardship chain Chairs: Adam Costanza and Keith Woeste (USFS) Steering Committee: Jean Bosquet, Barry Goldfarb, Gary Peter, Glenn Howe Consortium: 50+, see current list at treegenes.org

  7. TreeGenes.org

  8. 2015 TGI Report:8 Gaps & Initial Recommendations • 3 high-level areas identified • Innovation (a.k.a research) • Policies • Markets • 8 Specific gaps • Including examples for context • Initial, high-level recommendations to ameliorate gaps

  9. Innovation Innovation gaps in forest genetics, pathology, genomics, and physiology: • Genomics: Increase support of ongoing efforts to improve translational genomics* • Tree Breeding: Put resources toward restarting or increasing the capacities of tree breeding programs Southern pine co-ops have lost more than ½ of their full members since peaking in mid 1980s

  10. Policy Policy gaps from miscommunication or a lack of process to regularly update policies based on current scientific information: • Communication: Improve communication within the scientific community and to policy makers • Certification: Accelerate incorporation of scientific advances into SFM policies • Regulation: Develop actionable, risk-based analysis that better matches forest threat levels EAB management cost to US taxpayers is estimated at $10,000,000,000 - $18,000,000,000

  11. Market Market gaps constrain uptake of valuable technologies: • Information Generation and Uptake: Better translation and communication of science to forest landowners, industry, growers, and the public • Forest Regeneration: Have a regeneration strategy that includes stress-adapted trees • Fiber Security: Invest in improved treesto enhance fiber security through increased wood supply Stress-adapted trees could allow for decreasing rotation times to help limit risks associated with changing climates and increased pest pressure

  12. TGI 2016 • More detailed recommendations • Develop in depth recommendations for 2-3 gaps • Highlight ongoing efforts working to bridge gaps • Retrospective look • Reassess gaps & any progress from prior year • Add new gaps as necessary • New Steering Committee • Fast rotation ensures fresh perspectives • Expand TGI reach and support

  13. Expected Outcome 1. Get more stress adapted trees growing • Communicate expert’s recommendations to guide future research & investment • Provide expert and insider reviews of gaps • Get high-level decision maker’s attention • Be a credible voice for change GM Chestnut tree grown by Scott Merkle at University of Georgia

  14. Top 5 Ways You CanHelp TGI 5. Join the TGI 4. Work to fill the gaps identified by TGI 3. Tell colleagues about the need and this effort 2. Tell your congressperson that stress- adapted trees are important to our nation 1. Sign the TGI Support Letter

  15. TreeGenes.org/support

  16. Stay Engaged! • Learn more about stress adapted trees, and how you can help at treegenes.org • Feel free to contact TGI Staff, Adam Costanza and Susan McCord directly Adam Costanza Susan McCordPresident Executive Director adam.costanza@forestbiotech.org susan.mccord@forestbiotech.org

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