Harnessing forest genetic resources for increasing options in the face of environmental and societal challenges.

The Horizon 2020 Project OptFORESTS is a European initiative funded through the Horizon Europe program, aimed at supporting the protection and sustainable use of forest genetic resources (FGR) across Europe. By fostering cooperation and sharing knowledge, the project promotes climate change adaptation and biodiversity-friendly forestry practices.

Our focus within the project lies in Work Package 4 (WP4), where we evaluate how genotype interactions influence tree growth, drought resilience, stand structure, and genetic diversity in mixed genetic populations. This work is designed to develop silvicultural guidelines for managing genetically diverse forest stands, balancing biodiversity, resilience, and forestry objectives.

Using advanced methods like dendrometric data and tree structure analysis (TLidar), we assess the benefits of genetic diversity for forest productivity and stability. Additionally, we integrate these interactions into growth models and evaluate the impacts of silvicultural treatments on ecosystem services for diverse tree species. This work will culminate in practical guidelines for the sustainable management of genetic mixtures in forests under climate change.