Studies On Biosecurity And Its Related Policy In Forestry

Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses the policy and regulatory frameworks that analyze and manage risks in the sectors of food safety, animal life and health, plant life and health, and associated environmental risk. Biosecurity involves assessment and management of risks imposed by alien invasive species (including alien plants, pests and diseases), release of GMOs and their products, and genetic pollution due to use of improved (or foreign) plant germplasm. Biosecurity is still an evolving concept. In the narrow sense, biosecurity refers to the security problems caused by application of biotechnology; in the broad sense, it concerns with human health and environment safety, including the threat and damage to native species and ecosystems by nature or human activities, especially human's intensive activities (i.e., introduction of exotic pests, abuse of bio-resourc, es and transfer of animals and plants genetic resources) that may lead to the severe change in ecosystem, thus affecting, threatening and harming biodiversity.This paper mainly studies the broad sense biosecurity in forestry sector. Because of the robustness and the complexity of biosecurity, the analysis, investigation and assessment were focused on main factors that have impacts on biosecurity in forestry sector in China. Comparisons with experiences of foreign countries and analysis of current status of biosecurity in forestry sector were conducted to provide references and evidences for governmental agencies for development of the administration system, laws and regulations, and policies. The studies cover three main aspects of biological invasion of alien species, application of biotechnologies (particularly biosafety of transgenic trees), and genetic resources of forest trees. Literature study, consultation with government authorities and experts, on-site investigation and case studies were conducted in a holistic way to explore the problems in biosecurity in forestry sector, policy advices were proposed to strengthen the management of biosecurity in forestry sector in China.China is a rapidly developing country, development of biotechnology and utilization of biological resources require to carry out studies on biosafety in forestry sector in order to provide scientific and reliable evidences for decision making by the government. This study aims to analyze the existing problems and their causes through case studies and experiences from the latest development in biosafety field in China and other countries. Based on the analysis, recommendations in biosafety risk assessment and management, policy and legislation in forestry are made for government forestry authority to make appropriate decision making. This paper covers broad sense biosafety, including bio-invasion of introduced exotic trees, transgenic trees and transfer/utilization of improved genetic resources. The approach used for the study was to combine literature studies, interviews with government officials and experts, on-site investigations and case studies. And policy recommendations were made by synthesizing all findings from the above investigations.Biological invasion of alien plant species has been widely concerned by government agencies, non-government organizations and science community in many countries. This paper analyzes the current status of utilization and conservation strategies of genetic resources of exotic trees through an assessment of the approaches of introduction, domestication, collection of genetic resources, utilization and conservation of the main exotic tree species that have been grown in China and through a case study on genetic resources of Pinus caribaea in China. A case study on regeneration of Eucalyptus exserta (Leilin no. 1) was conducted to analyze potential risks of biological invasion to the nation ecosystems imposed by exotic tree species. Laws and regulations related to biological invasion in China and other countries were reviewed to analyze problems existing in biosafety management of exotic trees, a strategy of prevention and control of biological invasion of exotic trees were proposed.Regarding biological invasion of alien plant species, a survey on introduced exotic tree species was conducted and results indicated that a total number of 1,824 exotic tree specie/varieties of 508 genera from 121 families have been grown in different sites in China. The majority of introduced exotic tree species was found in Guangdong (351 species), Guangxi (284 species), Yunnan (252 species) and Fujian (227 species) Provinces and Autonomous Region, few species are found in Qinghai Province (13 species) and Nixie Autonomous Region (16 species).The exotic tree species in China are used for such many purposes as mainly for horticulture, forestation, timber production, food and medicine. Of which most are used for horticulture. The exotic tree species in China are introduced from almost very corner of the world, with 470 species from the Atlantic, mainly Australia, 302 species from North America and 293 species from Asia. Case study 1: Collection and conservation of genetic resources of an exotic tree species of Pinus caribaea. A thorough review of the sources, experiment sites and status of genetic diversity of the genetic resources of P. caribaea, a basic strategy was proposed for introduction, conservation, assessment and utilization of P. caribaea genetic resources.The overall survey finds 108 invasive species, including 4 species of micro-organisms accounting for 4% of the total, 22 species of invertebrate, taking up 20%, 82 species of herb plants, amounting to 76%. The information on invasive species of woody plants are nor available. According to the findings of the survey, more than a half of the invasive species are herbal plants, with invertebrate in the next and the micro-organisms in the third as well as. no information on woody plants. Thereby, policy recommendations on prevention and control of invasive species are proposed. Case study 2: Natural regeneration of Eucalyptus and risk assessment of its invasion potential. A field survey on natural regeneration and spread of Leilin No. 1 of Eucalyptus exserta was conducted to monitor the impacts of the species on the natural, and semi-natural forest ecosystems in Jiangmen of Guangdong province, and to provide a basis for assessing the ecological impacts and invasion risks of eucalypt trees in China.Another important aspect of biosecurity is the applications of biotechnologies. The current statuses of genetic improvement of forest trees, procedures of genetic engineering were reviewed and a case study on identification of Genes that Regulate Response to Water Stress of Prunus persica was conducted to analyze the prospects and potential risks of forest biotechnologies. A framework of biosafety assessment of transgenic trees was developed. Relevant biosafety laws and regulations in China and abroad related to management of transgenic trees were reviewed and analysis of existing problems in biosafety management of transgenic trees was conducted, strategies and suggestions have been proposed for strengthening biosafety management of transgenic trees.Case study 3, identification of Genes that Regulate Response to Water Stress of Prunus persica. In this study, a cDNAs encoding AP2/EREBP protein is cloned from peach by yeast one-hybrid system, was referred to PpDREBI and the GenBand accession number is EF635424. .The length of PpDREB1 is 853bp, it encodes 230 amino acids. The analyses of Northem blotting suggest that the expression of PpDREB1 is induced by drought, ABA PpDREB1 is expressed in E. coli, and as does AP2/EREBP transcription factors, their encoding proteins could specially be recognized, bind DRE-cis. Constructed PpDREB1 genes into the backward position of CaMV35S promoter of pCAMBIA1304 expression vector, and transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The root length, root hair, lateral root significantly multiplied. The result of this study not only provides references to transgenic drought resistant peach research and theoretical basis for applied research and transgenic biosecurity management in forestry field, but also references for development of transgenic biosecurity management policy. Case study 4 was provided on biosafety assessment and management of laboratory studies of transgenic poplars and their commercial utilization.Security of forest genetic resources is the third aspect of biosecurity addressed by this paper. An overall review of values, biodiversity status, threatening factors, reasons for loss, conservation and management of forest genetic resources were reviewed. The history and present status of biological resources in Chine were analyzed in the paper. Based on analyses of major measures for biosecurity of forest genetic resources taken in those biodiversity-rich countries, strategies and advices were proposed to strengthen protection and management of forest genetic resources.Based on the above studies in three different aspects of biosecurity in forestry sector, and on analyses of major measures for biosecurity management in those developed countries, proposals were made to strengthen biosecurity management in forestry sector in China.