EFI launches MEDFORGEN project

The Mediterranean Forest Genetic Resources Network (MEDFORGEN) is officially underway, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort to safeguard the genetic diversity of forest ecosystems across the Mediterranean region. Led by the EFI’s Mediterranean Facility (EFIMED), the next four years will see this new project focussing on ten countries in the EU Southern Neighbourhood: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.

Forest genetic resources (FGR) are essential for the resilience and adaptability of forest landscapes, especially in the face of climate change and environmental degradation. MEDFORGEN aims to strengthen this resilience by advancing knowledge on local FGR, identifying candidate Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) to preserve them, and promoting the strategic use of Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) in restoration programmes. The project will also support the development of tailored conservation roadmaps that reflect the unique ecological and socio-economic contexts of each country.

The project is inspired by the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme, EUFORGEN, a mechanism established by the Forest Europe process and working successfully for the conservation and sustainable use of FGR in Europe for the past 30 years. MEDFORGEN can leverage EUFORGEN’s extensive experience and expertise, reflected in its in-depth research, practical guidelines, and models for international collaboration and data management, offering a valuable foundation of knowledge on which to build. The MEDFORGEN project will identify GCU in the region based on EUFORGEN’s pan-European minimum requirements for dynamic GCU of forest trees.

As the first cross-border initiative dedicated to forest genetic resources conservation in the Mediterranean region, MEDFORGEN will build national and local capacities, engage key stakeholders, and foster long-term cooperation. With its activities now beginning and gaining momentum in 2026, the project sets the stage for a new era of regional collaboration to protect the genetic foundations of Mediterranean forests for future generations.