A comprehensive document "Regulations for the designation and conservation of genepools of tree species in the forests of the USSR" adopted in 1982, represented the basis upon which activities on forest genetic resources were implemented until the dissolution of the former Soviet Union. Research on genetic variation, evolutionary history and adaptation, ex situ methodologies and tree breeding was conducted by numerous scientific institutes. The scientific knowledge provided by these studies for implementation in forestry practice is often unknown to the western world because of language barriers and other isolating factors such as divergences in scientific approaches and methodologies.
The political and economic changes of the early 1990's have considerably changed the socio-economic and institutional context in which the conservation and management of forest genetic resources are carried out. In the Newly Independent States, coordination committees have been established or re-created, and comprehensive national programmes initiated. Nevertheless, the future of forest genetic resources conservation in the countries of the former Soviet Union gives rise to serious concern. Despite the presence of elaborated national strategies, institutional structures and human resources, restricted budgets are the main constraint for further development of forest genetic resources programmes.
The early 1990's also brought about a number of new collaborative projects with partners in the western world. Scientific contacts and cooperation between institutions, previously maintained at limited levels despite the political barriers, achieved a new quality and intensity.
At the international level, important political processes have been underway since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, in June 1992. These need to be translated into concrete strategies and actions. In Europe, a number of initiatives in forestry have begun to take action to meet these expectations. The Ministerial Conferences on the Protection of Forests in Europe (Strasbourg 1990, Helsinki 1994, and Lisbon 1998) set the basis for specialized international networks on forest genetic resources.
Within the above-mentioned context, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute together with the Forest Institute, Gomel, Belarus, convened a Workshop on sustainable forest genetic resources programmes in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Although, the Workshop was a first opportunity to meet and renew collaboration since the dissolution of the USSR, it benefited greatly from the strong expertise and the long tradition of cooperation among the participants and their institutions well before the beginning of the 1990's. The objectives of the Workshop were to provide an overview of the current activities, to reassess needs and priorities, and to emphasize the interest and capacities of the Newly Independent States to be proactive in international cooperation.
These Proceedings result from the Workshop which was held in Belovezha, Belarus in September 1996. They should be seen as merely a status report, reflecting a period when pieces of the old system are still in place, when enormous challenges are being faced and new programmes must be defined to secure sustainability in the long term. Some of the important players in the area of forest genetic resources may not be represented or were unable to attend this Workshop. It is hoped that they will be able to participate in future workshops of this kind.
Translation of the text from Russian into English followed the original papers as closely as possible. However, the particular scientific terminology, and different forestry concepts in general, make direct translations of Russian terms rather difficult. The papers were, therefore, edited for clarity to readers not acquainted with the forestry terminology used in the former USSR. Detailed explanations of the specific terms and concepts exceed the ambitions of these Proceedings; their knowledge is helpful but not essential for reading the English text. The order of papers does not imply any sequence of importance or priorities; the presented order was found convenient with regard to geographic coverage, species concerned and the similarity of problems faced.
The organizers would like to express their thanks to the management and staff of the Forest Institute in Gomel for their efficient logistics and their overwhelming hospitality. The very useful participation of Drs. C. Matyas, H. Muhs and L. Paule in the technical discussions is also acknowledged with thanks. Our thanks for the original translation of submitted texts are due to E. Guseva, Belarus. The Workshop was organized with financial support from INTAS (project INTAS-93-1181).