Mediterranean Oaks. EUFORGEN Genetic Conservation Network

Abstract

Mediterranean oaks play an important ecological and cultural role, since they provide diversified goods. However, economic changes has driven many species into a secondary role. They have been substituted by faster growing species, in addtion of other threats as fragmentation and lost of populations, genetic drift, etc. Capturing the existing diversity and providing conditions for evolution is the goal of gene conservation. Some factors that must be taken into account are the effective size (Ne) and the presece of rare genes. A review of conservation methodologies for different cases found within mediterranean Quercus species is presented: multiuse managed forests, small and marginal populations, species with o without breeding programmes. A strategy is proposed for the frequent situation in which agriculture and grazing activities are carried out under the forest canopy. In these cases, natural regeneration is possible and must be promoted. The relevance of indirect actions in the defence of use of mediterranean oaks, such as CORK MARK process, is also remarked.