Tropical forests are rich in diversity and have trees with a variety of excellent properties for timber. However, the harvesting of natural forest timber is not sustainable due to the uncertainty of subsequent resource regeneration, and the depletion of resources is limiting natural forest timber production and switching production to plantation timber. Therefore, there is a need to develop afforestation technologies for degraded secondary forests, abandoned cultivated lands, and other areas with high afforestation needs, in order to restore timber production capacity. Furthermore, many of the major tree species in natural forests are susceptible to the effects of climate change, and it is necessary to establish sustainable tropical forest management using diverse forest genetic resources with high environmental adaptability.

This project aims to clarify the characteristics, functions, and adaptability to environmental changes of the indigenous genetic resources of tropical forests in Southeast Asia and other regions, and to develop silviculture technologies to enhance forestry productivity and environmental adaptability based on this information.

• Characterization of tropical forest genetic resources for enhanced productivity and environmental adaptability
• Development of silviculture techniques that take into account the impact of vegetation change on ecosystem functions
• Networking of indigenous genetic resource management information and sharing of utilization methods

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand

Government of partner countries, state forest agencies, foresters and forestry enterprises

OKA Hiroyasu (Forestry Division)