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EUFORGEN

European Forest Genetic Resources Programme

DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 507Kb) 
 DOWNLOAD REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 501Kb) 

PROJECT TEAM
National Co-ordinator - John Fennessy, COFORD*
EUFORGEN National Co-ordinators:

  •     Conifers - Alistair Pfeifer, COFORD
  •     Scattered Broadleaves - Elaine O'Connor, University College Cork
  •     Stand-forming Broadleaves - John Fennessy, COFORD
  •     Thematic Networks (Forest Management) - Noel Foley, Forest Service
  •     National Focal Point (EUFGIS Project) - Cathal Ryan, Forest Service

    * Email: john.fennessy@agriculture.gov.ie

    Completion Date    : This is an ongoing programme on gene conservation at European level. Phase IV commenced on 1 January 2010 and is scheduled to end on 31 December 2014.

    Objectives
    In 1994, the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) was established as an implementation mechanism for Resolution S2 (Conservation of forest genetic resources) adopted by the first Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) in 1990. EUFORGEN is coordinated by Bioversity International and has participants from over 30 European countries. The programme operates through networks in which policy-makers, scientists and managers from participating countries agree work programmes, exchange information and identify needs and priorities to enhance pan-European collaboration on forest genetic resources. In Ireland the programme is serviced by COFORD in co-operation with the Forest Service.

    Progress
    In early 2009, Irish representatives met to review progress with the EUFORGEN programme and to decide whether Ireland should continue membership during Phase IV. It was agreed that Ireland should continue as an integral part of EUFORGEN.
    As Phase III of EUFORGEN came to an end in December 2009, a Steering Committee Meeting was held in Greece in mid June 2009 to discuss the outcomes from the current phase and to consider future plans for EUFORGEN. At the Steering Committee Meeting updates were provided on progress made by the EUFORGEN Networks during Phase III and whether there was a need to continue into Phase IV. Due to the many factors affecting forest genetic resources, especially climate change, it was decided that EUFORGEN should continue and had an important role to play into Phase IV. At the meeting a speaker from the Canadian Forest Genetic Resources Information System (CAFGRIS), Dr Judy Loo, provided information on the structure and status of gene conservation of tree species in Canada. CAFGRIS provides information on native tree species biology and ecology as well as on threats to the species (e.g. alien invasive species and developing environmental change). Summarised data are also available as text and graphs for public use. More information is available at Canada's National Forest Information System (NSIF) website (https://cfsnet.nfis.org/cafgris,index.html).
    In spring 2009, the EUFGIS project (Establishment of a European Information System on Forest Genetic Resources), an EU-funded project began its third year of activities, with a series of training workshops for national focal points. An important element was an introduction to the pan-European minimum requirements and data standards for dynamic gene conservation units of forest trees. This programme is expected to conclude in late 2010.

    Outputs
    During Phase III, EUFORGEN had continued to operate through one thematic and three species networks - Forest Management, Conifers, Scattered Broadleaves and Stand-forming Broadleaves.
    In 2009 the Stand-forming Broadleaves Network Meeting was held in Antalya, Turkey (31 March - 2 April) at which representatives from 27 countries participated. At this meeting the common action plans for scattered broadleaves were progressed and the meeting reported on the development of common action plans in a number of member countries. Progress on the network's work programme for phase III was also evaluated and tasks to be completed before the end of the phase were highlighted.
    It concluded with an agreement that network members will finalize working plans for the completion of the programme in Phase III of EUFORGEN with:
  •     publication of guidelines on genetic aspects of forest management,
  •     include relevant policies and practices related to gene conservation and forest management in the summary report to be developed by all networks and published at the conclusion of Phase III,
  •     the network will also prepare a chapter on policy tools to promote the use of high quality forest reproductive material in the summary report as agreed to be prepared by all networks and published at the conclusion of Phase III.
    It was also agreed that the network will review climate change strategies in European countries with a view to developing a comprehensive set of recommendations for the use of forest genetic resources in Europe in the light of this change.

    Activities Planned
    The EUFORGEN Steering Committee decided to continue the programme into Phase IV (1 January 2010 - 31 December 2014). The meeting also decided to change the way EUFORGEN operates. During the new phase, activities will be carried out through smaller working groups coming together and focusing on specific tasks. Each working group will consist of approximately ten members and will be established by the Steering Committee, which will also identify and define the task to be addressed, will set deadlines for completion and will direct the group on expected outputs for each working group. The Steering Committee is scheduled to meet in early 2010 to develop the programme for Phase IV.

     

     

    2008 report

    download 2008 report as pdf (pdf 43Kb)  

    PROJECT TEAM
    National co-ordinator - John Fennessy, COFORD*
    Species networks national representatives:
    Conifers - Alistair Pfeifer, COFORD
    Scattered Broadleaves - Dr Ellen O'Connor, University College Dublin/Teagasc
    Stand-forming Broadleaves - John Fennessy, COFORD
    Thematic Networks (Forest Management) - Noel Foley, Forest Service
    National Focal Point (EUFGIS Project) - Cathal Ryan, Forest Service

    * Email: john.fennessy@coford.ie

    COMPLETION DATE: This is an ongoing programme on gene conservation at European level with Phase III scheduled to end on 31 December 2009.

    OBJECTIVES
    In 1994, the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) was established as an implementation mechanism for Resolution S2 (Conservation of forest genetic resources) adopted by the first Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) in 1990. EUFORGEN is co-ordinated by Bioversity International and has participants from over 30 European countries. The programme operates through networks in which policy makers, scientists and managers from participating countries agree work programmes, exchange information and identify needs and priorities to enhance pan-European collaboration on forest genetic resources. In Ireland the programme is serviced by COFORD working in close co-operation with the Forest Service.

    PROGRESS
    The EUFORGEN Networks are currently developing common action plans for target tree species to strengthen gene conservation efforts on a pan-European basis. The common action plans aim at sharing of responsibility for forest genetic resources conservation among European countries. During 2007 the EUFGIS (Establishment of a European Information System on Forest Genetic Resources) project, co-ordinated by Bioversity International and co-funded by the European Commission under the Council Regulation (No 870/2004), on genetic resources in agriculture initiated the development of an information system for dynamic gene conservation units of forest trees in Europe and work in this area is continuing.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED 

  •     Third Stand-Forming network meeting in Turkey, March-April 2009.
  •     Phase III of EUFORGEN steering committee meeting in Thessalonica, Greece, June 2009, to discuss outcomes from the current phase and develop future plans for EUFORGEN.

    OUTPUTS
    During 2008 the Scattered Broadleaves network meeting (Skiphelle, Norway, 20-22 May) progressed the common action plans and reported on the development of common action plans in a number of member countries. Progress on the work programme for Phase III was evaluated and tasks to be completed before the end of the phase were highlighted.
    The Conifers network meeting (Sopron, Hungary, 10-12 June) continued work on the development of common action plans for conifers. Four categories were considered: (1) stand-forming widespread conifers, (2) scattered widespread conifers, (3) rare and threatened conifers and (4) exotic conifers. Development of technical guidelines was reported for a number of new conifer species. The meeting included a seminar on the use of forest genetic resources in Hungary.
    The Forest Management network meeting (Louven, Belgium, November 2008) reported on developments in forest management issues in Europe and how these impacted on forest genetic resources, and provided updates on relevant European programmes. It agreed to finalise working plans for the completion of the programme in Phase III of EUFORGEN with:
  •     the publication of guidelines on genetic aspects of forest management,
  •     the summary report to be developed by all networks and published at the conclusion of Phase III will include a chapter on policies and practices related to gene conservation and forest management and a chapter on policy tools to promote the use of high quality forest reproductive material.
    It was also agreed that the network would review climate change strategies in European countries with a view to developing a comprehensive set of recommendations for the use of forest genetic resources in Europe.