Complexity of gene resources conservation and utilization of a differently managed multipurpose tree species (Castanea sativa Mill.): what, where and how to conserve

European chestnut is grown extensively for its fruit and timber and is important not only for rural diversification, local economies and cultures, but also for its contribution to the landscape and environment. The species is threatened across Europe by human activities and by the ravages of fungal attacks such as Phytophtora spp. causing ink disease. European chestnut is therefore proposed as a model species for the development of long-term strategies combining conservation of evolutionary and adaptive potential, exploitation of breeding stocks and preservation of Mediterranean landscapes. The results of a four year EU funded project (CASCADE-EVK2-CT-1999-00006) are reported. The main objective of the project was to develop a strategy for long-term gene conservation and management of European chestnut. It was a multidisciplinary project involving scientists from 11 research institutions in five European countries covering areas such as ecology, ecophysiology, pathology, molecular genetics, population genetics, quantitative genetics, gene conservation, tree breeding, environmental economics and forest management. Both results obtained in different fields of investigation as well as synthetic considerations and recommendations related to gene conservation programs to be applied to this complex multipurpose tree species are given.