Need for Conservation
Rising Human Population
Increasing demand for wood, fuel, and land for agriculture and urbanization.
In Situ Conservation Challenges
Protecting species in their natural habitats is difficult due to ongoing threats.
Threat to Biodiversity
Forest genetic resources, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, are at risk.
Ex Situ Conservation Solutions
Preserving genetic material in protected locations for future restoration.
Deforestation and Land Use Change
Clearing forests for agriculture, fuelwood, and urban expansion.
Reintroduction Potential
Enables repopulation of species once environmental concerns are addressed..
How Camcore Conserves Genetic Diversity
Exploration and Identification
Camcore conducts field expeditions in remote areas of Central America, Mexico, and Southeast Asia to locate populations of threatened tree species.
Seed Collection and Genetic Diversity
Once a threatened population is identified, seeds are collected from 20 to 50 trees with good growth and form. Each tree receives a unique pedigree number for tracking genetic diversity.
Seed Distribution and Conservation Banks
Collected seeds are distributed to Camcore members worldwide, where they are planted in field conservation banks and progeny trials to preserve genetic material.
Establishing Conservation Parks
Since the 1980s, gene conservation banks have evolved into “Conservation Parks,” which are 20-40 hectare protected areas on members' land, ensuring the long-term survival of tree populations.
Reintroduction and Genetic Safeguarding
Seeds from conservation banks and trials have been reintroduced into their original countries, helping local governments restore lost genetic resources and promote forest sustainability.
Genetic Sampling
Step 1
Identify threatened species & analyze genetic diversity using molecular markers.
Step 2
Determine optimal sampling numbers for small and large populations.
Step 3
Establish conservation sites and conduct field trials.
Camcore’s genetic studies in Guatemala (Pinus tecunumanii) revealed that collecting seeds from 20 trees in small populations (5 ha) and 10 trees in large populations (200 ha) efficiently captures genetic diversity. In Indonesia, DNA analysis of Eucalyptus urophylla identified the Timor and Wetar populations as the most genetically diverse, shaping conservation strategies. By sampling 20 to 50 trees per population, Camcore ensures broad genetic adaptability, supporting both tree breeding and long-term conservation efforts.
International Conservation
Pine
Camcore's pine conservation efforts began in 1980, focusing on Mesoamerican species threatened by deforestation. We have preserved 25 pine species from 366 provenances and 8,506 mother trees, maintaining genetic diversity essential for sustainable forestry.
Eucalypts
Since 1996, Camcore has collected and conserved Eucalyptus urophylla from seven Indonesian islands, creating the largest genetic base for this species. Our work has expanded to include E. pellita, E. dorrigoensis, and other Corymbia species, ensuring long-term genetic diversity for future breeding and conservation.
Teak and Hardwood
We have safeguarded valuable commercial and endangered hardwood species, including teak, gmelina, and 10 other hardwood species. This includes 49 provenances and nearly 1,000 mother trees, securing genetic resources vital for both conservation and forestry industries.
Domestic Conservation
Camcore’s domestic conservation efforts began in 2003 through a collaboration with the USDA Forest Service to preserve endangered and threatened tree species in the United States. These projects, funded by USDA grants, focus on species such as eastern and Carolina hemlock, red spruce, Fraser fir, Atlantic white cedar, Table Mountain pine, and ash species.
Eastern and Carolina Hemlock
Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina hemlock (T. caroliniana) are ecologically important species that provide structural diversity, habitat for animals and modify ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and stream and soil temperature. While eastern hemlock is broadly distributed across the eastern U.S. both species are found in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In the past several decades, eastern and Carolina hemlock have experienced widespread decline from an invasive pest, the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae). Beginning in 2003, Camcore’s first domestic projects centered on conserving eastern and Carolina hemlock, by collecting seeds from 867 mother trees across 92 populations between both species. Through these conservation efforts, we have preserved vital genetic material in conservation seed reserves and seed orchards for current and future preservation. An article summarizing Camcore’s work with both hemlock species can be found here.
Red Spruce and Fraser Fir
Red spruce (Picea rubens) and Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) are the dominant canopy species in high elevation spruce-fir forests, a signature ecosystem of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Both have been on the decline due to previous overharvesting, wildfires, air pollution, and climate change. Since the 1950’s Fraser fir has faced additional mortality from the introduction of the invasive balsam woolly adelgid (BWA, Adelges piceae). This steady decline of Fraser fir led Camcore to collect seeds from 137 mother trees across 13 populations in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Additionally, seeds were also collected from 127 red spruce mother trees across 19 populations. To better understand patterns of diversity and evaluate the effectiveness of Camcore’s conservation efforts, foliage samples from both species were collected and sent to the USDA Forest Service National Forest Genetics Laboratory.
Atlantic White-Cedar
Atlantic white-cedar (AWC, Chamaecyparis thyoides) is an endangered wetland tree occupying a narrow range extending across the eastern and Gulf Coasts of the United States. AWC is an important ecological and economic species that helps to store and filter water, provides habitat and food for wildlife, and is prized for its light decay-resistant wood. Since 2012, Camcore has focused conservation efforts on AWC due to the steep decline caused by the historic draining of wetlands, overharvesting, and devastating wildfires. Camcore has successfully conserved material from 257 trees across 35 populations and four seed zones to ensure broad genetic representation. An article summarizing Camcore’s work with AWC can be found here.
Table Mountain Pine
Table Mountain pine (TMP, Pinus pungens) is an important fire-dependent endemic species of the Appalachian Mountains. Often found on steep rocky slopes, TMP, minimizes soil erosion and runoff and provides year-round food and cover for wildlife. In the past century TMP has seen a decline due to fire suppression, periodic bark beetle outbreaks, and climate change. Starting in 2009, Camcore collected seeds from 294 mother trees across 43 populations representing the largest genetic resource for TMP outside of natural stands. The collected seeds have been distributed for use in conservation seed orchards, seed reserves, and research activities. Additionally, Camcore and the USFS are also working together on a genetic diversity study to describe patterns of genetic structure and diversity in natural TMP stands. An article summarizing our work with TMP can be found here.
Pitch Pine
Pitch pine (Pinus rigida), like Table Mountain pine (TMP), is a fire dependent species found in the Appalachian Mountains. Pitch pine has a wide distribution from central Maine to northern Georgia, overlapping with TMP in the south. Similar to TMP, pitch pine is found on dry, rocky slopes, where it helps to stabilize soil and is an important habitat and food source for wildlife. Throughout its range, pitch pine has struggled to regenerate due to an increase in fire suppression leading to a hardwood dominated understory. Additionally, current seed orchards are not producing sufficient seeds needed for reforestation. Due to these barriers to regeneration, Camcore has increased our efforts in conserving the genetic material of pitch pine for future conservation needs.
