Mitigation of Global Climate Change through Genetic Improvement of Resin Production from Resinous Pines: The Case of Pinus halepensis in Greece

Carbon sequestration by forests and storage in biomass has gained great interest globally climate change mitigation. Resinous pine act as ideal carbon sinks because, addition to capturing atmospheric CO2 for production, they produce resin (resin concentration C: 77.17% w/w), contributing further the mitigation of greenhouse effect. Greece until 1970s was considered one main resin-producing countries Europe, due quantity quality products collected from natural populations mainly Pinus halepensis Mill. Previous current research shown that production is a genetically controlled trait (h2 > 0.70) exhibits variability among trees 0.5–33.0 kg per tree year). The above led genetic selection P. genotypes with constant over time high yields (≥20 year) consequently greater more effective counteracting but also economic reasons benefit producers. These high-yielding were cloned through grafting on brutia rootstocks became potential establishing commercial plantations. Thus, hectare plantation 500 trees, yield 20 tree, expected sequester 28.31 tn year (instead 2.82 stand 400 based 2.5 tree), at productive age 25 years. In this case, plantations improved have not only mitigating atmosphere, restoring degraded marginal areas arid soils, same can offer social benefits local communities.