The project

Overview

Mediterranean forests are home to an extraordinary wealth of life. Shaped by thousands of years of evolution, migration, and human interaction, they support biodiversity, provide essential ecosystem services, sustain livelihoods, and contribute to the cultural and environmental identity of the region.

Today, however, these forests face growing pressures. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, more frequent heatwaves, and increasingly severe wildfires are challenging their ability to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing climate.

At the heart of their ability to adapt lies an often-overlooked resource:

forest genetic diversity.

Genetic diversity refers to the variation found within and between tree populations. It is the foundation of adaptation, enabling forests to respond to environmental changes, resist pests and diseases, and recover from disturbances. The greater the genetic diversity within a forest, the greater its potential resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Despite its importance, Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) remain insufficiently integrated into forest conservation and management policies across the Mediterranean region. National strategies are limited, data and expertise are unevenly distributed, and cooperation between countries remains fragmented.

Protecting forest genetic diversity is an urgent challenge. Once lost, genetic diversity is often impossible to restore. Safeguarding this shared natural heritage is therefore essential to ensure that Mediterranean forests continue to support people, biodiversity, and landscapes for generations to come.

At a glance:

Project duration

October 2025 – September 2029

Focus

Conservation and sustainable management of
Forest Genetic Resources

Geographic scope

10 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries

Implementing organisation

European Forest Institute (EFI)

Funded by

European Union

Objectives

From 2025 to 2029, MEDFORGEN brings together public authorities, researchers, universities, forest practitioners, and local stakeholders from across the region to improve knowledge, strengthen capacities, and promote coordinated action on forest genetic resources, aiming to ensure that forest genetic diversity becomes a recognised and integrated component of forest conservation, restoration, and climate adaptation efforts.

MEDFORGEN aims to:

Strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean forests landscape

By improving knowledge and understanding of local forest genetic resources, MEDFORGEN helps countries and practitioners make more informed decisions that support the long-term adaptability of forests.

Supporting conservation through knowledge, tools, and collaboration

The project equips institutions, policymakers, researchers, and forest managers with the expertise, resources, and networks needed to conserve and sustainably manage forest genetic resources

Forest genetic diversity does not stop at national borders. Many Mediterranean tree species are shared across countries, making regional cooperation essential for their effective conservation.

MEDFORGEN brings together expertise, institutions, and local knowledge from ten Mediterranean countries:

Algeria • Egypt • Israel • Jordan • Lebanon • Libya • Morocco • Palestine • Syria • Tunisia

Working together across the Mediterranean

What we do?

Work Package 1

The first phase of the project aims to assess the current status of Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) evaluation and conservation across the participating countries through a consultation process involving policy representatives and research organisations from each country.

As the level of preparedness for implementing FGR conservation is expected to vary among participating countries, this baseline assessment is essential to identify national needs, establish a clear starting point, and ensure that tailored support is provided throughout the project.

Work Package 2

This Work Package is central to assessing national Forest Genetic Resources (FGR), identifying and designing potential Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs), integrating their data into an expanded online information system, and developing tailored management plans.To ensure these efforts continue beyond the project’s lifetime, MEDFORGEN will strengthen national capacity by integrating FGR conservation into university curricula.

Through customised training materials and educational modules, the project will equip educators and future professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to carry out forest assessments, inventories, and conservation activities on a long-term basis

Work Package 3

This Work Package aims to strengthen national capacities by providing the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to assess and characterise Forest Genetic Resources (FGR), beginning with Candidate Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) of priority tree species.

It will also carry out comprehensive genetic analyses of key tree species across the participating countries and integrate the resulting data into EUFGIS (European Information System on Forest Genetic Resources, an online platform designed to give end‑users direct, user‑friendly access to information on forest genetic resources), contributing to a regional overview of forest genetic resources while demonstrating best practices for FGR characterisation.

Work Package 4

This phase of MEDFORGEN project focuses on enhancing the strategic utilisation of forest reproductive material (FRM) in forest restoration programs, possible through developing, adapting, and disseminating specially designed materials related to FGR conservation and utilisation.

Additionally, WP4 will strive to raise awareness of the implications associated with the production and use of FRM among local stakeholders, including nurseries involved in restoration projects.

Work Package 5

Communication is a core component of MEDFORGEN and underpins all phases of the project. This Work Package establishes the framework needed to support effective implementation, maximise project visibility, and ensure lasting impact. By communicating project activities, results, and knowledge in accessible formats tailored to different audiences, it will foster regional collaboration, promote knowledge exchange, and support training and capacity building, creating the conditions for the long-term uptake and expansion of the project’s outcomes.

Expected results

What are we working towards?

National Forest Genetic Resources roadmaps

Co-designed national strategies that help countries identify priorities and take action to conserve Forest Genetic Resources over the long term.

A Mediterranean network of conservation sites

Genetic Conservation Units identified, characterised, and designated in every partner country, connected to the European Information System on Forest Genetic Resources (EUFGIS).

A Mediterranean community of Forest Genetic Resources professionals

A cross-disciplinary community of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners equipped to understand the science, take ownership, and drive forward the research and action needed to protect Forest Genetic Resources.

Get in touch!

Contact us