The role of ex situ conservation in a given conservation programme depends on the objectives of the
gene conservation effort. In the first part of this presentation we therefore focus on the basic
question: ‘What should be conserved and with what purpose?’ We separate ex situ conservation
efforts into two categories: (1) efforts designed to minimise genetic changes in order to maintain the
original genotypes to the extent possible (static conservation), versus (2) efforts which actively
support continued natural selection in response to new or changing environments and growth
conditions (evolutionary conservation). Both types of conservation efforts have a role to play in
strategies for sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources. Still, we find type (2) activities
to be of most general value for traditional conservation, while type (1) activities often have an
important role to play in connection with breeding programmes.
In the second section of this presentation we focus specifically on the role of combined
conservation and utilisation. This is an obvious option to consider when dealing with commercial
species, and we argue that better management and utilisation can often contribute substantially to
conservation of the genetic resources of many such species. Intense utilisation of commercial
species is often a major threat against their genetic resources, but utilisation may at the same time
be a key to their conservation. We argue that increased utilisation in terms of planting and
domestication of commercial species can be a case of true integrated conservation and development
(ICD). Bringing the hundreds of precious tree species into planting programmes is a major
challenge: not only as part of a required conservation effort, but first of all as part of a long termed
sustainable management of the valuable genetic resources. Nobody would like to lose the options
for growing these precious species in the future. This is a challenge for timber producers, but
certainly also for programmes involved with development of non-wood products and on-farm
plantings. Products from trees are of substantial importance to the livelihood of millions of farmers
in almost any tropical country. Support to conservation through domestication and
commercialisation of species that can provide fruits and medicine for people, and fodder for
livestock, is therefore a means to both poverty alleviation, rural development and conservation.
In the last part of our presentation we discuss choice of different ex situ strategies in given
situations. We recommend a holistic approach, where threats against given genetic resources are
analysed together with available options for effective conservation. The best conservation effort is
often found in a combination of changed management practices and additional conservation efforts.