ABSTRACT
If climate change proceeds as predicted, plant stock well matched under current climate will be growing in sub-optimal conditions. Forest restoration projects should be based on scientific knowledge especially under climate change. Revegetation with native species is identified as a partial solution for many landscape and biodiversity problems linked to restoration. Plant material can be either sourced locally or from more distant locations within the species range. In the recent decades, genetic material for revegetation projects has been quite often collected locally. However, seed sourcing for ecological restoration is a highly complex issue. Plants that are locally adapted now may not be locally adapted in the future. Adaptation strategies resulting from climate change may not always be possible through a simple shift of seed sources along environmental gradients. Restoration by establishing tree populations genetically diverse and appropriate to ecosystem stability has not been frequently evaluated. This review intends to assess the relevant aspects of tree seed sourcing for future restoration projects. We searched peer-reviewed articles dealing with seeds from tree species published during the last two decades, regardless of continents.
Keywords:
seed germination; native species; plant adaptation; seed genetics.