Bioversity Project - Conservation and management guidelines for Dipterocarp trees

Why are Dipterocarps important?

Dipterocarps are an important family of tree species dominating many forest ecosystems particularly in tropical Asia. In addition to their ecological significance, they yield valuable timber for international and domestic markets, as well as some other products such as resins and aromatic oils.

What is the project?

The project will analyze forest management and genetic conservation strategies in Southeast Asia to identify gaps and threats to the long-term viability of populations of Dipterocarp species, such as such as logging and climate change.

It will specifically address the following questions:

• Do the current management and conservation strategies and guidelines ensure that genetic diversity of tree populations is adequately protected in managed forests and conservation areas?

• How should the current strategies and guidelines be adjusted so that they would better ensure long-term viability of species and sustained production of their goods and services?

• What additional information on genetic diversity of the species is needed for designing management and conservation strategies and guidelines which consider conservation of genetic resources?

Work includes a review of previous research on genetic diversity of dipterocarp species and a study of the implications of forest management to genetic diversity using the dipterocarp species, Shorea parvifolia and Shorea leprosula, as model examples. These species are widely distributed in Malaysia and Indonesia, and are emerging target species for forestry.

The project is funded by the Malaysian Government  [1] and conducted in collaboration with Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM  [2]). The results of the two-year project will be communicated in 2011. 

Contact:  Riina Jalonen  [3]