Arne Steffenrem
Research Scientist
(+47) 916 70 420
arne.steffenrem@nibio.no
Place
Steinkjer
Visiting address
Ogndalsveien 2, 7713 Steinkjer
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
David Chludil Jaroslav Čepl Arne Steffenrem Jan Stejskal Christi Sagariya Torsten Pook Silvio Schueler Jiří Korecký Curt Almqvist Debojyoti Chakraborty Mats Berlin Milan LstibůrekAbstract
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to forest ecosystems, necessitating innovative adaptation strategies. Traditional assisted migration approaches, while promising, face challenges related to environmental constraints, forestry practices, phytosanitary risks, economic barriers, and legal constraints. This has sparked debate within the scientific community, with some advocating for the broader implementation of assisted migration despite these limitations, while others emphasize the importance of local adaptation, which may not keep pace with the rapid rate of climate change. This opinion paper proposes a novel pollen-based assisted migration strategy as a potential middle ground in this debate. By leveraging existing seed orchard infrastructure for controlled pollen transfer, this approach aims to enhance forest resilience through the introduction of genetic material from climatically suitable sources while acknowledging local adaptation. We assess the genetic implications of the proposed strategy through computer simulation. Additionally, we examine the ecological implications of assisted gene flow, discussing the potential benefits of heterosis and the risks of outbreeding depression in intra-specific hybrid populations. We further explore the advantages of pollen-based migration in mitigating phytosanitary risks, reducing economic barriers, and simplifying legal considerations compared to traditional seed or seedling transfer methods. Regional perspectives on adapting pollen-based assisted migration are provided, with specific examples from Northern and Central Europe. We highlight how this approach could be integrated into existing forestry practices and regulatory frameworks within the European Union. We conclude by advocating for the inclusion of pollen-based assisted migration in future international projects and operational forestry, emphasizing the need for adaptable policies that can support innovative forest management strategies in the face of climate change.
Authors
David Chludil Curt Almqvist Mats Berlin Arne Steffenrem Steven E. McKeand Jiří Korecký Jan Stejskal Jaroslav Čepl Fikret Isik Debojyoti Chakraborty Silvio Schueler Torsten Pook Christi Sagariya Milan LstibůrekAbstract
No abstract has been registered