Integration of forest genetic resources into forest inventories: Forest genetics at the heart of a workshop on adaptation to climate change

Training Over 30 experts from ten countries in the South and East of the Mediterranean have been participating since Tuesday in Ifrane in a regional workshop dedicated to integrating genetic resources into forest inventories, with a view to strengthening the adaptation of forests to climate change. This first regional train-the-trainers workshop is part of a series of workshops aimed at supporting Mediterranean countries in integrating forest genetic resources into their national inventories, indicated the coordinator of the Medforgen project and director of the Mediterranean office of the European Forest Institute (EFI), Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat, to MAP. Morocco was chosen for its experience in forest management, while the Ifrane site allows for practical application of acquired knowledge through field exercises, she specified in a statement to MAP. The objective is to make forest genetics a decision-support tool for identifying the species and populations best adapted to future climatic conditions, particularly drought and rising temperatures. "If we want what we plant today to be healthy in 50 years, with climate change, we need to choose the right species and the right populations today," stressed the coordinator. For his part, the representative of the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), Khalid Cherki, highlighted the role of train-the-trainers in strengthening experts' skills, sharing knowledge, and improving decisions related to the conservation and sustainable management of forests. This approach is of particular interest to Mediterranean forests, which are subject to increasing pressures related to drought, rising temperatures, and changing environmental conditions, he noted. In the province of Ifrane, the preservation of the Atlas cedar illustrates these challenges. Identifying populations with the best adaptation capacities is an important focus for anticipating the effects of climate change and improving restoration and reforestation operations, he added. Organised as part of the Medforgen (Mediterranean Forest Genetic Resources) project, led by EFI in collaboration with ANEF and funded by the European Union, this workshop aims to complement traditional inventory methods with a better understanding of the genetic diversity of forest stands. This approach should help inform silvicultural choices, guide reforestation programmes, and strengthen the resilience of forest ecosystems, in line with the objectives of the "Forests of Morocco 2020-2030" strategy. The programme also includes the presentation of the "Marteloscope" approach, a plot-level analysis tool designed to assess stands and support on-the-ground management decisions. Kits will be made available to participating countries to facilitate the dissemination and application of this method.