MEDFORGEN

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

MEDFORGEN aims to strengthen this resilience by advancing knowledge on local FGR, identifying candidate Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) to preserve them, genetically characterising selected species 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. As the first cross-border initiative dedicated to FGR conservation in the Mediterranean region, MEDFORGEN will support building national and local capacities, engage key stakeholders, and foster long-term cooperation.

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. Building on this foundation, MEDFORGEN will contribute to the expansion and enrichment of the EUFGIS information system by providing new occurrence data for European species and integrating information on additional Mediterranean species and their conservation sites, thereby broadening the scope and value of the overall information system.

The Mediterranean Forests Genetic Resources project (MEDFORGEN) is funded by the European Union.