Disneyland or native ecosystem: Genetics and the restorationist

Though restoration implies a commitment to genetic<br />purity, the restorationist may have to settle for something<br />less. The question is how to compromise while minimizing<br />the risks.Drawing from literature and their professional experience, we discuss the impacts of introduced genetic material in restoration plantings and propose general guidelines to avoid short and long term failures. Since the observation was made that seeds of different geographic origins produce trees with different survival and growth characteristics within the same plantation (HL Duhamel de Monceau of France in early 1700s), research forestry has supported two points: 1) species are genetically structured in a hierarchical fashion, and 2) variation can reflect adaptations to environmental conditions in which the ancestral populations evolved. There are consequences of introducing stock without consideration of genetic variability, such as the stock may die after planting because they lack adaptive characteristics, poor growth, inbreeding depression, and genetic contamination. To curb these consequences, they recommend a number of guidelines.