Forest genetic resources and forest reproductive material at the crosssection of multiple policy domains in Europe
Abstract
Conservation, management, and use of Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) and their related forest reproductive materials (FRM) are of key importance for fostering the resilience of forest ecosystems. FGR and FRM issues in Europe are facing several gaps related to their integration in policies, policy instruments, insufficient financing, siloed knowledge, uneven policy implementation, and limited monitoring. While FGR is increasingly acknowledged as an integral part of biodiversity, embedding them under this wider concept may lead to poor recognition of the relevance and specificities of FGR, and the exclusion of FRM specificities. Within the 5-years Horizon Europe project OptFORESTS, we aim to identify policy gaps pertaining to FGR and FRM and what leverages use to fill them. As a first goal, we intend to explore how FGR and FRM are addressed by current European policies, by analysing domains that directly and indirectly influence FGR. Our preliminary results indicate that there are at least five relevant policy domains to consider, thus broadening the traditional, “siloed” approach that typically focuses on forest policy. To identify leverages for unlocking the potential of FGR and FRM for a more resilient environment and society, we propose a four-partite division of the policies based on their relation to FGR, thus providing a better understanding of what policies will be key for future actions.
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