Project description
Forecasting future forest needs
Europe’s forests can play a big role in the development of a circular, sustainable bioeconomy. Not only does the forest-based bioeconomy provide jobs, but it also maintains countless of regulating ecosystem services. Forests also contribute to climate change mitigation. In this context, the EU-funded OptFORESTS project will support the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources. Specifically, the project will study the selection of diverse forest reproductive material, including mixtures, adapted to future climates. It will also foster sustainable use and resilience of natural forests. Another project priority is the development of nature-based solutions. To evaluate the adaptive and biomass traits in forests, OptFORESTS will employ genetics, modelling, stakeholder surveys and socioeconomic analyses.
Objective
Forests are key elements of the European bioeconomy. To enhance provision of their ecosystem services (ES), harnessing Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) is essential. OptFORESTS will support the conservation and sustainable use of FGR by: i) conducting research on the selection of diverse forest reproductive material (FRM), including mixtures, adapted to future climates, ii) fostering sustainable use and resilience of natural forests, iii) helping expand and diversify nursery production, iv) developing nature-based solutions (NBS), tools (e.g. expanded Information Systems) and cultural trajectories to promote forest biodiversity and ES, and v) demonstrating biodiversity restoration solutions. To do this, OptFORESTS will carry out genetics, modelling, stakeholder surveys, expert panels and socioeconomic analyses. OptFORESTS will evaluate adaptive and biomass traits in existing common gardens and newly-established next-generation ones, conserve and utilise unique tree lineages for ecosystem restoration and management, model future adaptation of trees at different life stages and conduct low-input breeding. This will be complemented by studying the effects of silviculture and landscape heterogeneity on genetic diversity and developing new silvicultural options for genetically mixed forests, which will be implemented via training software (marteloscopes) and long-term demonstration plots. To enable optimal supply of diversified FRM, OptFORESTS will assess the European nursery sector, forecast future FRM needs, develop plant production technology and promote cooperation between nurseries. To ensure the uptake of NBS, they will be co-designed with local and EU-level stakeholders and a cost-benefit and gap analysis of key socio-economic, governance and policy issues will be developed. Finally, the OptFORESTS tailored communication strategy will be instrumental in achieving long-term impacts supporting international and EU policy under the European Green Deal.
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
75007 Paris
France
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Participants (17)
00790 Helsinki
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1000 Ljubljana
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35122 Padova
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1165 Kobenhavn
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1131 Wien
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80100 Joensuu
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28006 Madrid
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165 00 Praha
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00185 Roma
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077190 Ilfov Voluntari
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1430 Aas
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80333 Muenchen
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75013 PARIS
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35131 Padova
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
94704 MAISONS ALFORT CEDEX
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28006 Madrid
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1040 Sofia
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Partners (1)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
8903 Birmensdorf
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