The genetic and economic gains from forest tree breeding programmes in Scandinavia and Finland

TY - JOUR

T1 - The genetic and economic gains from forest tree breeding programmes in Scandinavia and Finland

AU - Jansson, Gunnar

AU - Hansen, Jon Kehlet

AU - Haapanen, Matti

AU - Kvaalen, Harald

AU - Steffenrem, Arne

N1 - doi: 10.1080/02827581.2016.1242770

PY - 2017/5/19

Y1 - 2017/5/19

N2 - Plantations of genetically improved forest trees are critical for economic sustainability in forestry. This review summarizes gains in objective traits and the resulting economic impact of tree breeding programmes in Scandinavia and Finland. Genetic improvement of forest trees in these countries began in the late 1940s, when the first phenotypically superior plus-trees were selected from natural environments. The main findings from this review are that (i) tree breeding can increase volume growth in the range 10–25%, and (ii) the bare land value associated with genetically improved trees gives a better return on investment and a shorter rotation period compared to the unimproved forests. As some Nordic countries are quite dependent on the forest industry, breeding programmes that have resulted in economic gains have been beneficial for society. Growth and wood quality traits are often adversely correlated, and the weighting of traits from an economic perspective could provide an index for determining maximum profit from breeding. Tree breeding faces an array of challenges in the future, such as changes in silviculture, climate, new pests and diseases, and demand for wood-based products.

AB - Plantations of genetically improved forest trees are critical for economic sustainability in forestry. This review summarizes gains in objective traits and the resulting economic impact of tree breeding programmes in Scandinavia and Finland. Genetic improvement of forest trees in these countries began in the late 1940s, when the first phenotypically superior plus-trees were selected from natural environments. The main findings from this review are that (i) tree breeding can increase volume growth in the range 10–25%, and (ii) the bare land value associated with genetically improved trees gives a better return on investment and a shorter rotation period compared to the unimproved forests. As some Nordic countries are quite dependent on the forest industry, breeding programmes that have resulted in economic gains have been beneficial for society. Growth and wood quality traits are often adversely correlated, and the weighting of traits from an economic perspective could provide an index for determining maximum profit from breeding. Tree breeding faces an array of challenges in the future, such as changes in silviculture, climate, new pests and diseases, and demand for wood-based products.

U2 - 10.1080/02827581.2016.1242770

DO - 10.1080/02827581.2016.1242770

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0282-7581

VL - 32

SP - 273

EP - 286

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

IS - 4

ER -