CORDIS

EU research results

CORDIS

Increasing Sustainability of European Forests: Modelling for Security Against Invasive Pests and Pathogens under Climate Change

Fact Sheet

Result in Brief

Reporting

Results

Objective

European forests are under unprecedented threat from the combined forces of climate change and large increases in the numbers of alien invasive pests and pathogens resulting from changes in patterns of global trade. Interactions between climate change, including likely changes in both mean temperatures and precipitation, will have serious impacts on the susceptibility of forest ecosystems to damage by pests and pathogens, and a large number of novel, unprecedented forest health problems are likely to occur in the near future. These problems will lead to reductions in primary production, with consequent losses in yields, biodiversity and other multi-functional roles of forests. Local extinctions of highly susceptible plant species may also result. The ISEFOR project will address these problems through:  the identification of key groups of potentially invasive alien organisms,  the development of accurate, state-of-the art diagnostic methods to detect and quantify both known and unknown threats,  an in depth analysis of the plant nursery trade, the major poorly controlled pathway for distribution of alien pests and pathogens, and  through the development of modelling software enabling the prediction of geographical areas at risk of attack by alien invasive pests and pathogens under climate change scenarios. The efficacy of the ISEFOR project will be enhanced through the use of the recently developed large databases of alien pest and pathogen threats, and interfacing with other EU-funded projects dealing with plant health issues. Results will be directed to the national plant protection organisations through targeted workshops.

Programme(s)

FP7-KBBE - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology

Topic(s)

KBBE-2009-1-2-08 - Assessing and reducing vulnerability of European forests to climate change and the consequences for industrial and societal needs – SICA (Russia)

Call for proposal

FP7-KBBE-2009-3

See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

CP-FP-SICA - Small/medium-scale focused research project for specific cooperation actions dedicated to international cooperation partner countries(SICA)

Leaflet | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Credit: EC-GISCO, © EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Address

King'S College Regent Walk
Ab24 3fx Aberdeen

United Kingdom

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU Contribution

€ 536 118

Website

Contact the organisation

Administrative Contact

Elizabeth Rattray (Dr.)

Participants (16)

Sort alphabetically

Sort by EU Contribution

Expand all

CONFEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES PROPRIETAIRES FORESTIERS ASBL

Luxembourg

EU Contribution

€ 25 000

SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET

Sweden

EU Contribution

€ 251 199

UNIVERSITE DE NEUCHATEL

Switzerland

EU Contribution

€ 276 000

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DELLA TUSCIA

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 151 800

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 175 922

INSTYTUT BADAWCZY LESNICTWA

Poland

EU Contribution

€ 134 838

UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES

Belgium

EU Contribution

€ 200 400

ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO

Finland

EU Contribution

€ 235 500

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE

France

EU Contribution

€ 237 618

CAB INTERNATIONAL

United Kingdom

EU Contribution

€ 199 716

Saint-Petersburg State Forest Academy

Russia

EU Contribution

€ 75 060

UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR WIEN

Austria

EU Contribution

€ 428 593

European State Forest Association

Belgium

EU Contribution

€ 12 500

CONFEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES PROPRIETAIRES FORESTIERS ASBL

Belgium

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes

Switzerland

EU Contribution

€ 12 500

INSTITUTE OF BOTANY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

China

EU Contribution

€ 20 417

Project information

ISEFOR

Grant agreement ID: 245268

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2010
End date

28 February 2014

Funded under:

FP7-KBBE

Overall budget:

€ 3 995 536,40
EU contribution

€ 2 973 181

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

United Kingdom

DE EN ES FR IT PL

Alien invaders threaten EU forests

Climate change is set to increase the susceptibility of forest ecosystems to damage by alien invasive pests and pathogens. EU scientists investigated ways to counter this threat in order to prevent a decrease in primary production, and hence yield, as well as loss of vulnerable tree species.

ENVIRONMENT

European forests are of enormous importance to the environment, economy and society, providing a multitude of benefits. These include timber and non-timber products, biodiversity, water catchment protection, and protection from avalanches, flooding and landslides. However, Europe's forests are now at risk from alien species, which have become a major cause of biodiversity loss around the world. The aim of the ISEFOR (Increasing sustainability of European forests: Modelling for security against invasive pests and pathogens under climate change) project was to increase knowledge of invasive species. This was achieved by providing diagnostic tools for the plant health surveillance community. Moreover, ISEFOR provided important information regarding the potential of known quarantine organisms to cause damage to European forest ecosystems in the face of climate change. This new information helped quarantine authorities to tackle the threat posed by alien pests and pathogens. Researchers also identified invasive pests and pathogens that were previously unknown as threats to European forest ecosystems. The EU-funded ISEFOR project increased knowledge regarding alien species that may enter European forests. The insights gained will help to inform robust and effective policies for forest management. The initiative focused on collecting data on potentially threatening species for use in the development of modelling tools. Resulting simulations enabled accurate predictions to be made concerning the spread and impact of pathogens and pests under climate change conditions. Databases on alien invasive pests and pathogens in Europe were updated and the information used to identify the most vulnerable host species. Sentinel European trees were planted in China and monitored at regular intervals for colonisation by indigenous arthropods and pathogens. It was also found that the pinewood nematode currently presents a very low risk in most of Europe, but may become a threat under future climatic conditions. Other invasive species selected for modelling included the mountain pine beetle, the North American seed bug and the Siberian moth. ISEFOR increased knowledge of invasive pests and pathogens damaging forest ecosystems, both species already present and species that may invade in the near to mid-term future. The project also improved understanding of how alien pests and pathogens enter Europe. This greater understanding will increase the ability of the responsible authorities to detect and identify problematic organisms. In addition, the modelling and mapping of climatic suitability and forest susceptibility to invasive forest pests represents a further valuable contribution to pest risk analysis.

Keywords

Climate change, forest ecosystems, invasive pests, pathogens, plant health

Project information

ISEFOR

Grant agreement ID: 245268

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2010
End date

28 February 2014

Funded under:

FP7-KBBE

Overall budget:

€ 3 995 536,40
EU contribution

€ 2 973 181

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Project information

ISEFOR

Grant agreement ID: 245268

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2010
End date

28 February 2014

Funded under:

FP7-KBBE

Overall budget:

€ 3 995 536,40
EU contribution

€ 2 973 181

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Project information

ISEFOR

Grant agreement ID: 245268

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2010
End date

28 February 2014

Funded under:

FP7-KBBE

Overall budget:

€ 3 995 536,40
EU contribution

€ 2 973 181

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Download

PDF

XML

Last update: 16 July 2019

Record number: 95536

CORDIS

Objective

Coordinator

Participants (16)

Project information

Alien invaders threaten EU forests

Keywords

Project information

Project information

Deliverables

Publications

Project information

Project information

Download

CORDIS

Objective

Coordinator

Participants (16)

Project information

Alien invaders threaten EU forests

Keywords

Project information

Project information

Deliverables

Publications

Project information

Project information

Share this page

Download