Country Reports indicated that relatively little attention is given by national compilers of use data to the value of tree products and services in the informal economy, despite their high importance here (as related by Dawson et al., 2014, this special issue). Of the above species, approximately 500 were nominated as priorities for management at least in part for negative reasons related to their invasiveness potential (explored in this

special issue by Koskela et al., 2014). The most common priority species globally was teak (Tectona grandis), followed by river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), white poplar (Populus alba), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and common leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) (mentioned by 21, 19, 15, 14 and 14 individual Country Reports, respectively). Taking these five tree species as examples, many of the countries assigning them as priorities for action did find more not have them occurring naturally, which indicates a strong need for international coordination in conservation and management efforts, something that is indicated by a number of authors in this special issue (e.g., Dawson et al., 2014 and Koskela SCR7 et al., 2014). Four of the five are also mentioned as invasive species in at least one country, hence part of the reason for the overall priority ranking is negative considerations, indicating the necessity

for caution in transferring even the most highly valued germplasm among countries. Country Reports also listed approximately 1,800 tree species conserved ex situ in seed banks, botanic gardens and elsewhere, with approximately 600 of these Palmatine belonging to the aforementioned category of priority species. Without doubt, this significantly under represents the number of tree species stored ex situ, however, as illustrated by the large number of entries in the Tree Seed Suppliers Directory (TSSD), a database that lists more than 5,800 woody perennial species available globally through seed suppliers’ active collections ( Dawson et al., 2013 and TSSD, 2014). Furthermore, the Millennium Seed

Bank (MSB, Kew, UK) currently holds seed of over 10% of the world’s wild plant species in long-term storage– including a very wide range of trees – and by 2020 aims to hold 25% ( MSB, 2014). A significant problem remains, however, in the limited genetic representation of these collections due to narrow sampling and the lack of passport data that accompanies accessions ( Dawson et al., 2013). More data and better coordination of collections are clearly required. Better coordination is also needed between ex situ and in situ efforts. Although it is generally agreed that in situ conservation is the first line of defence, it is only in Europe that reserves known as dynamic gene conservation units are established systematically to conserve tree genetic resources ( Lefèvre et al., 2013). The first review by Dawson et al.