Forest Genetic Resources Conservation Laboratory (CGAF)

The Forest Genetic Resources Conservation Laboratory, unit under contract (USC), intends to develop, in cooperation with INRA, research efforts in population genetics of forest trees and in conservation biology. It aims to bring concrete answers as regards to sustainable management of forest ecosystems.

Animator: Brigitte Musch
Team members: Thierry Lamant, Bénédicte Le Guerroué, Stéphane Martin, Alain Valadon

This USC, due to its supervisions (both Office National des Forêts (ONF) - and INRA), seeks to increase the links between researchers and field managers.

The objectives of CGAF are the following ones:

Applied Research
The research programme of CGAF is built around three axes: (1) genetic resources of wild cherry tree (first species model), (2) genetic resources of scots pine (second model), and finally (3) the modeling of impact of silviculture on forest genetic resources. For each model species selected, the studies purposes relate to:

influence of the modes of forest management on genetic diversity and structuring of the populations.
relations between populations introduced by man (cultivated or forest improved varieties) and autochtonous populations

The CGAF team carries out analyzes, description and interpretation of the structure of the genetic variability of the forest trees with morphological and molecular markers. It also intends to adapt methods of molecular marking to routine analyses of forest tree populations.

Promotion of gene conservation and additional activities
Knowledge obtained by CGAF, and those acquired by other research teams, have to help ONF for improving management, planning, silviculture on a genetic point of view and for conservation of genetic resources. The CGAF activities aim to translate this genetic knowledge into practical management rules and to set up a program of forestry technical improvement with publications of technical papers, contributions to the conception of silvicultural guidelines and field managers education (see example linked).

Furthermore CGAF carries out some expertises in its field of competence, such as study of autochtony for chestnuts in Ripaille forests (Savoie), comparative genetic study of different French populations of twisted beeches (Faux). It is also carrying out a survey in order to precise the distribution range of wild apple and wild pear trees in public forests, and to give genetic advices to field managers for the conservation of these scattered species.

CGAF also contribute actively to the activities of the national arboreta network which associates INRA, ENGREF, MNHN, ONF and Orsay University. Moreover existing competence in dendrology within CGAF make possible expertises for creation and renewal of arboreta as well as management advices for « out forest » trees.

Finally, CGAF is involved in the activity of the beech in situ genetic network , which includes now 20 conservation unit stands distributed all over the french territory in order to cover the genetic variability of this species.

Wild cherry tree

Scots pine

Recent publications

In this chapter, you can find (and download) the most recent publications from CGAF

Written by: Service Communication Orléans
Contacts: Brigitte Musch
Publication director: Dominique King
Copyright: Inra, 2006
Unit: Conservatoire Génétique des Arbres Forestiers
Date of creation: 02/16/2006
Date of last update: 11/10/2009

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