National Research Council of Italy

Institute of Biosciences and BioResources

DISBA logo CNR logo

IBBR Project #302

Harnessing forest genetic resources for increasing options in the face of environmental and societal challenges
Project ID 302
ID 101081774 OptFORESTS
Acronym OptFORESTS
Project acronym and title Harnessing forest genetic resources for increasing options in the face of environmental and societal challenges
Contract Grant Agreement ID 101081774
Description 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.
Funding body EUROPEAN UNION
UOS Firenze
Role Research Unit
Signatory Vendramin Giovanni Giuseppe
Contact Person , Vendramin Giovanni Giuseppe, Bagnoli Francesca, Marchi Maurizio, Piotti Andrea, Pinosio Sara, Avanzi Camilla
Starting of activities 2022
Ending of activities 2027
Extension -
Amount (euro) 8191329.00
Technological Area -
Technological Field Ottimizzazione dell’uso delle risorse naturali negli ecosistemi agricoli e forestali
Select Projects
*
*
*
*
Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse (IBBR/CNR)
Via G. Amendola 165/A, I-70126 Bari (Italy)
Copyright © 2012-2024. All Rights Reserved.