collection, identification, maintenance, evaluation, regeneration, and utilization of trees and shrubs genetic resources in ILAM province.

Conservation of genetic reservoirs especially genetic resources of forest trees and shrubs is one of the economic, scientific and social necessities of people and governments. Some factors such as non scientific and extra exploitation have caused that these vital and priceless resources to be in danger, vulnerable or overthrown situation. So accessibility to them will be very difficult or impossible in the future. It is an obligation that these genetic resources prior to damage and destruction are identified, collected and maintained in a best condition for future use. There was carried out a research project in order to recognize and collect the seed of forest trees and shrubs in Ilam province. In this research, primarily the results of some studied projects in the various fields of forests were collected, surveyed and checked by circulation in the forest areas. Fifty two species of forest trees and shrubs were identified as below: Acer monspesulanum, Amygdalus orientalis, Amygdalus scoparia, Celtis caucasica, Cerasus mahaleb, Cerasus microcarpa, Cercis siliquastrum, Cotoneastre loristanica, Crataegus artosangoinea, Crataegus azarulus, Cuppressus sempervirens, Fraxinus rotundifolia, Lonicera nummularifplia, Myrtus commonis, Olea europaea, Peripolca aphylla, Petrocaria fraxinifolia, Pyrus glabra, Rhamnus kurdica, Roza elimatica, Russ coriaria, Ziziphus jujuba, Ziziphus numularia. Most of these species is very important in respect of ecological, economical and medicinal use. Twenty three species as below with priority of vulnerable, endanger, rare condition and then they identified. Seed samples collected on branches of selected trees and shrubs and afterward they were dried in proper condition. There were collected a number of seed samples for any preferred species which are distributed in a vast region in the forest. At the end, 167 seed samples (200 to 300 gr.) had been sent to natural resource gene bank in of Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran. These tree and shrub genetic resources will be available for researchers to study them from different aspects now.