, 2008). In addition, since geographically-proximate timber trees are (typically) more similar than those farther apart, even trees not individually fingerprinted before harvesting can be tracked based on reference samples, allowing discrimination between legal concessions and illegal harvest zones (see, e.g., GTTN, 2014). To respond to climate change, Alfaro et al. (2014) indicate the importance of new breeding approaches (e.g., El-Kassaby et al., 2012). This is because current methods are often too slow to respond adequately

due to long generation times in breeding cycles (Yanchuk and Allard, 2009). Such approaches are facilitated by advances in genomics, but the importance of participatory domestication, working with local communities, also has much selleck compound to offer (Dawson et al., 2014 and Leakey et al., 2012). Another important issue to address is the role of epigenetic buffering in climate change responses (Aitken et al., 2008). The most well known example of epigenetic effects in trees is variation in the phenology of bud set in Norway spruce (Picea abies; Johnsen et al., 2009), but similar effects have been observed in other species (e.g., Greenwood and Hutchison, 1996 and Webber et al., 2005). There is, however, a general

lack of information on epigenetic selleck effects in angiosperm trees ( Rohde and Junttila, 2008). Finally, further studies on geographic patterns of molecular genetic variation in trees in combination with more advanced ensemble methods of past-, present- and predicted future-climate ecological niche modelling are required to understand learn more climate impacts on species and forests,

and prioritise geographic regions for conservation (Cavers and Dick, 2013, Lefèvre et al., 2013 and Thomas et al., 2012). Because data on tree species distributions are often deficient, the utility of vegetation maps as proxies for distributions is also an important area of research (VECEA, 2014). Bioversity International and ICRAF are part of the CGIAR Consortium Research Programme on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (www.foreststreesagroforestry.org/). We thank colleagues within the Forest Genetic Resources Programme (Bioversity International), Science Domain 3: Tree Diversity, Domestication and Delivery (ICRAF) and Forestry Department (FAO) for their advice in writing this editorial. “
“The elemental role played by trees in the lives of rural people in the tropics appears obvious through the many uses made of tree products, in construction, fencing, furniture, foods, medicines, fibres, fuels and in livestock feed, and in their cultural value. Indeed, in a World Bank report published a few years ago, forests and trees-outside-forests were reported to contribute to the livelihoods of more than 1.6 billion people worldwide (World Bank, 2008).