Improving conservation values of managed forests: the Dendrogene Project in the Brazilian Amazon

As human influences on natural systems extend to the furthest reaches of the planet, a challenge for the twenty-first century is how to reconcile resource use with an equitable and just quality of life for current and future generations of people, while also conserving the millions of other species with which we share the planet. This is especially relevant for tropical regions known to be biodiversity rich. The question is how, exactly, this should be accomplished, and what measurements can be used to establish whether the goal has been reached. This article describes the Dendrogene Project, an initiative developed to provide tools for improving conservation values in managed forests in the Brazilian Amazon and to contribute to the sustainable development of the region's natural resources. Such a blend of conservation and management is seen by many as the lasting solution to the region's problems of poverty and inequality.