Bioversity International

Bioversity International is the world’s largest international institute dedicated to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources. It undertakes, encourages and supports research and other activities on the use and conservation of agricultural biodiversity, especially genetic resources. The Institute’s aim is to promote the greater well-being of people, particularly poor people in developing countries, by helping them to achieve food security, to improve their health and nutrition, to boost their incomes and to conserve the natural resources on which they depend.

Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Austria

BFW is a multidisciplinary Research and Training Centre fulfilling statutory tasks and international commitments of Austria. Through conducting forest and landscape research, BFW prepares scientific guidelines and disseminates knowledge, focussing on 1) the sustainable use, multifunctional management and protection of forest ecosystems; 2) conservation and enhancement of biodiversity; 3) protection against natural hazards and georisk-management; and 4) use, management and protection of catchment areas to safeguard the national water resources on a sustainable basis.

State Forest Tree Improvement Station (SNS), Denmark

The goal of the Tree Improvement Station is to ensure the supply of genetically suitable seed and plant material for Danish forestry. The station is responsible for the genetic quality of the plant material for the Danish State Forests and gene conservation of indigenous tree and shrub species. This is achieved through seed production, coordination of the distribution of plants to be used in the State Forests and collaboration with research institutes on the development of genetically improved seeds and in maintaining the gene stocks.

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France

INRA is a national public scientific and technological establishment under the joint authority of the Ministries of Research and Agriculture. Its objectives are:

• to serve the public interest, whilst maintaining consistency between its research goals and the demands of society;

• to acquire and disseminate information on scientific knowledge and innovation, particularly in the fields of agriculture, food and the environment; and

• to contribute to decision-making and training, to promote the transfer of scientific knowledge and participate in the science-society debate.

National Forest Centre (NLC), Zvolen Slovakia

NLC is the main applied forest research and development institution in Slovakia with a wide range of expertise from genetics and tree breeding to surveying and monitoring of forest resources. NLC has carried out research on genetic variation and reproductive processes of forest trees and management of breeding populations. The Institute is responsible for documentation, approval and control of forest reproductive material in Slovakia and it also coordinates the National Programme for Conservation of FGR.

Slovenian Forestry Institute (SFI), Slovenia

The Slovenian Forestry Institute is a public research institution of national importance, with a comprehensive research programme focusing on biological, ecological, silvicultural, spatial and production aspects of forests and forested landscape. The major goal of the institute is research and development for conservation of sustainably managed multifunctional forests. It is also the State Authority for approval of basic material and certification of forest reproductive material.

Forest Research, United Kingdom

Forest Research is the research agency of the Forestry Commission, the British Forest Service. It aims to provide high quality research and advice to the whole forest industry. Its research, development and surveys address the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainable forestry in a multifunctional landscape. Forest Research focuses on providing new knowledge and practical solutions based on high quality science.