Beyond single species seed orchards: A multi-species framework for tropical tree breeding and forest management
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, 1958, Denmark; Corresponding author.
- 2Landscape Alliance, Nairobi, Kenya; Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), Nairobi, Kenya
- 3Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, 1958, Denmark
- 4Landscape Alliance, Nairobi, Kenya; Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- 5Landscape Alliance, Nairobi, Kenya
- 6Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, 1958, Denmark; Landscape Alliance, Nairobi, Kenya
- 7Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), Nairobi, Kenya
- 8Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Environmental Studies and Resource Development, Chuka University, Kenya
Abstract
Conventional forest tree breeding has largely focused on species that perform well in monoculture systems, where genetic evaluation, seed production, and management can be optimized under uniform conditions. While this approach has delivered substantial genetic gains, it does not adequately address the growing demand for forests that function as diverse, climate-resilient ecosystems. Most tropical tree species are native to species-diverse ecosystems, where species have co-evolved through interactions ranging from mutualism to commensalism. This is reflected in plantings, where many species grow best or only in mixed-species stands, and ecological interactions shape their performance, adaptability, and long-term survival. Yet breeding strategies specifically designed for such mixed systems remain largely unexplored in tree breeding. This is particularly relevant for species that exhibit reduced fitness in monocultures. This calls for a shift toward designing and selecting seed sources based on their performance, ecological function, and economic value within relevant species mixtures rather than single-species systems. Such breeding programs should maintain high genetic diversity to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity of restored forests, while providing a cost-effective framework for multiple tree species. Based on these considerations, we propose the novel concept of Multi-species Breeding Seed Orchards (MBSOs) for tropical tree improvement. Unlike traditional single-species orchards, MBSOs are designed to mimic natural forest dynamics while enabling systematic genetic improvement and providing genetically improved seeds for plantation forestry, landscape restoration, agroforestry, and other tree planting initiatives. By integrating ecological principles with quantitative and genomic breeding methods, MBSOs seek to reconcile productivity, biodiversity, and resilience within a single breeding framework. We discuss key scientific and operational challenges including species compatibility, reproductive synchrony, spatial design and competition management, maintenance of genetic integrity, and estimation of genetic parameters such as heritability and breeding values in mixed-species contexts, as well as emerging approaches to overcome them. Finally, we present the conceptual design of a planned MBSO at Karura forest in Nairobi, Kenya, envisioned as the first breeding seed orchard of its kind and as a research and demonstration platform for advancing tree breeding in mixed-species systems.
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BibTeX
@article{lobo2026beyond,
title = {{Beyond single species seed orchards: A multi-species framework for tropical tree breeding and forest management}},
author = {Albin Lobo and Ramni Jamnadass and Jens-Peter Barnekow Lillesø and Ian K. Dawson and Roeland Kindt and Abrham Abiyu and Katrine Gro Friborg and Erik Dahl Kjær and Jon Kehlet Hansen and Jing Xu and Chantal Mariotte and Peter Fundi and Ely Kogei and Fabio Pedercini and Lars Graudal},
journal = {Trees, Forests and People},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101536},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101536},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Beyond single species seed orchards: A multi-species framework for tropical tree breeding and forest management
AU - Albin Lobo
AU - Ramni Jamnadass
AU - Jens-Peter Barnekow Lillesø
AU - Ian K. Dawson
AU - Roeland Kindt
AU - Abrham Abiyu
AU - Katrine Gro Friborg
AU - Erik Dahl Kjær
AU - Jon Kehlet Hansen
AU - Jing Xu
AU - Chantal Mariotte
AU - Peter Fundi
AU - Ely Kogei
AU - Fabio Pedercini
AU - Lars Graudal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Trees, Forests and People
DO - 10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101536
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101536
AB - Conventional forest tree breeding has largely focused on species that perform well in monoculture systems, where genetic evaluation, seed production, and management can be optimized under uniform conditions. While this approach has delivered substantial genetic gains, it does not adequately address the growing demand for forests that function as diverse, climate-resilient ecosystems. Most tropical tree species are native to species-diverse ecosystems, where species have co-evolved through interactions ranging from mutualism to commensalism. This is reflected in plantings, where many species grow best or only in mixed-species stands, and ecological interactions shape their performance, adaptability, and long-term survival. Yet breeding strategies specifically designed for such mixed systems remain largely unexplored in tree breeding. This is particularly relevant for species that exhibit reduced fitness in monocultures. This calls for a shift toward designing and selecting seed sources based on their performance, ecological function, and economic value within relevant species mixtures rather than single-species systems. Such breeding programs should maintain high genetic diversity to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity of restored forests, while providing a cost-effective framework for multiple tree species. Based on these considerations, we propose the novel concept of Multi-species Breeding Seed Orchards (MBSOs) for tropical tree improvement. Unlike traditional single-species orchards, MBSOs are designed to mimic natural forest dynamics while enabling systematic genetic improvement and providing genetically improved seeds for plantation forestry, landscape restoration, agroforestry, and other tree planting initiatives. By integrating ecological principles with quantitative and genomic breeding methods, MBSOs seek to reconcile productivity, biodiversity, and resilience within a single breeding framework. We discuss key scientific and operational challenges including species compatibility, reproductive synchrony, spatial design and competition management, maintenance of genetic integrity, and estimation of genetic parameters such as heritability and breeding values in mixed-species contexts, as well as emerging approaches to overcome them. Finally, we present the conceptual design of a planned MBSO at Karura forest in Nairobi, Kenya, envisioned as the first breeding seed orchard of its kind and as a research and demonstration platform for advancing tree breeding in mixed-species systems.
SN - 2666-7193
ER -