Regional Genebank Workshop on Species Prioritization and Building a Roadmap for High Quality Tree Seed Production and Conservation Production Orchards

In Hanoi from 4 to 6 November 2026, Under the permision of The Ministry of Agriculture and Enviroment (MAE), Vietnam Academy of Forest Sciences (VAFS) in collaboration with World Agroforestry (ICRAF), organized the Regional Genebank Workshop under the theme “Species Prioritization and Building a Roadmap for High-quality Tree Seed Production and Conservation Production Orchards.”

The workshop will provide a forum for sharing knowledge and experience and strengthening cooperation in the conservation, development and sustainable use of tree genetic resources. Participants will also discuss approaches to improving seed quality to support tree planting, landscape restoration and agroforestry development.

To hold a dialogue with national partners from the Southeast Asian region to introduce the principles of high-quality tree seed production through lowinput diversity tree breeding, and using these principles to design conservation production orchards (CPOs) as a new strategy for field genebanks.

Discussions will focus on principles for designing breeding programmes for a diverse range of tree species with appropriate levels of investment to produce high-quality seed; the Conservation Production Orchard (CPO) model, which combines field-based genetic resource conservation with seed production; and tools and methods for identifying priority species. Through technical exchanges and consultation, participants will develop an initial list of priority species by region to guide the establishment of high-quality seed production areas and conservation production orchards.

Technical Session I: High-quality tree seed production
Technical Session II: Conservation production orchards (CPOs)
Technical Session III: Tools and methods of species prioritization
Technical Session IV: Species prioritization

At the workshop, Participants will form one or two groups per country to discuss species prioritization, capacity-building needs and potential partnership areas/proposals with ICRAF/Landscape Alliance.

Country presentations from five Southeast Asian countries covering:

Current status: National situation in regard to tree genebanks and conservation;
Priorities and needs: Tree species prioritization and key capacity-building requirements;
Partnership opportunities: Potential areas, topics or proposals for collaboration with ICRAF/Landscape Alliance.

Speaking at the workshop, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phi Hong Hai – Director of the Vietnam Academy of Forestry Sciences – proposed three directions for further cooperation:

– First, developing proposals for priority tree species in each country, clarifying conservation needs, potential uses, and areas for regional cooperation.

– Second, strengthening experience sharing and capacity building in the assessment and documentation of genetic resources, seed management, and high-quality seed production.

– Third, working with ICRAF and partners to consider developing pilot models of production and conservation gardens with community participation, tailored to needs and resources.

Through the workshop, VAFS and ICRAF aim to strengthen research collaboration and tree seed supply, contributing to biodiversity conservation, improved plantation performance and sustainable livelihoods.

Field visit date 06/11/2026

Travel from Hanoi to Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province

Visit Canarium tramdenum field genebank in Cuc Phuong National Park

Visit demonstration clonal genebank farms in the buffer zone of Cuc Phuong National Park.