Legal and political context

Extract from the dossier “Forest reproductive material: a challenge for tomorrow’s forests”.

The droughts of 2003, 2018 and 2019 as well as bark beetle attacks in spruce forests in eastern France have raised alarm bells about the resilience of forests. Several public policies have therefore been put in place over the last 5 years to strengthen forests’ ability to adapt to climate change through a reforestation programme.

Public policies for forest renewal:

• 2013: European Union forestry strategy (EUFS) based on sustainable forest management
• October 2014: law on the future of agriculture, food and forestry to develop the sustainable and multifunctional management of forests, with the creation of a Strategic Forest and Wood Fund aimed at renewing forests and developing the timber industry.
• January 2017: 2016-2026 national forest and wood plan to renew and restore degraded forest stands and plantations
• September 2020: the forestry section of the France Recovery Plan
• 150 million euros for forest renewal and a target of 50 million trees planted by 2024
• 5.5 million euros for the seeds and seedlings sector
• 1 million euros for the renewal of the State’s seed orchards
• December 2020: roadmap for adapting forests to climate change prepared by forest and timber industry players
• October 2021: France 2030: €500 million dedicated to French forests and the planting of tens of millions of trees
• Assises du bois et de la forêt (forestry and wood convention): the objectives of the France Recovery Plan are confirmed.

Stakeholders in the forestry and timber sector (institutions, elected representatives, owners, researchers, business leaders, associations) are meeting to share a common vision and come up with operational solutions to meet the challenges facing forests.

Scientific needs and INRAE’s contributions

Content from the “Forest reproductive material: a challenge for tomorrow’s forests” dossier

Thanks to French public policies focused on reforestation through planting, France has increased its forested surface area by 1.5 million hectares in 50 years. However, the adaptability of the species used for reforestation raises questions: what characteristics are important for the trees of tomorrow? Which species should be planted where? What inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity needs should be anticipated? INRAE’s work on the varietal selection of forest species and the creation and management of seed production structures (seed orchards and seed-bearing stands) is helping to design more resilient forests by guaranteeing the genetic origin and quality of forest seeds.

INRAE’s expertise is called upon by the Ministry of Agriculture to provide support in the management of genetic resources for reforestation. Its work covers the entire forestry seed production chain, from identifying the best genetic resources in France or abroad to regulating and registering them in the national register, monitoring harvests and sales, and making recommendations on the use of varieties by reforesters. In this context, several INRAE teams in the ECODIV department are involved in selection programmes and experiments that help assess and guide the characteristics of tomorrow’s trees. In this way, the Institute acts as a genuine manager of genetic diversity.