TGI is made possible by support from the U.S. Forest Service
Tree Genes Initiative
TGI Endeavors to Accelerate Stress-Adapted Trees
TreeGenes
Initiative
1. Why we need stress-adapted trees
2. TGI overview
3. 8 gaps & initial recommendations
4. Expected outcome
5. How you can help
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 MASSIVEUSFS FHTET National Insect & Disease Risk Map 2013-2027
Prediction: More Demands on Forests
Forest2Market
Union of Concerned Scientists report: Planting for the Future
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
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
Upstream Research Midstream Growth Downstream Use
Funding agencies Land owners Timber management companies
Forest biotechnologists Forest growers Forest products companies
Tree breeders Forest managers Federal land management agencies
TreeGenes.org
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
Innovation
Innovation gaps in forest genetics, pathology, genomics, and physiology:
1. Genomics: Increase support of ongoing efforts to improve translational genomics*
2. 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
Policy
Policy gaps from miscommunication or a lack of process to regularly update policies based on current scientific information:
3. Communication: Improve communication within the scientific community and to policy makers
4. Certification: Accelerate incorporation of scientific advances into SFM policies
5. 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
Market
Market gaps constrain uptake of valuable technologies:
6. Information Generation and Uptake: Better translation and communication of science to forest landowners, industry, growers, and the public
7. Forest Regeneration: Have a regeneration strategy that includes stress-adapted trees
8. Fiber Security: Invest in improved trees to 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
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
GM Chestnut tree grown by Scott Merkle at University of Georgia
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
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
TreeGenes.org/support
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
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