New Strategy of Forest Tree Breeding for Society, Forest Science, and Forestry in Korea

Abstract

Social and scientific changes, i.e., global warming, desertification, pollution, biodiversity, bioenergy, plant variety protection, biotechnology, timber demand, reforestation in North Korea, and etc., were reviewed for new strategy of forest tree breeding in Korea. Diversified breeding goals, globalization of breeding target species, multidisciplinary research approaches, manpower networking, establishment of new administrative and research units in KFS and KFRI were proposed. Principles suggested for new tree breeding strategy are: 1) multi-disciplinary approach in settlement of objectives, breeding methods, and etc., 2) expansion of target trees including foreign species, 3) fulfillment of both domestic and international demands for forest tree breeding, 4) establishment of breeding program well-grounded on genetic resources conservation, 5) acknowledgement of breeding products (i.e., variety, technique, gene, and etc.) as goods, and 6) provision of more research opportunities for young scientists. Lastly, ongoing tree breeding project in Indonesia and NTFP R&D Center at the College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University were introduced as examples of desirable breeding projects based on target species diversification, multidisciplinary approach, and manpower networking.