Joël Conche – National seeds and seedlings expert at the Joux drying plant (ONF)(testimonial from the dossier “Forest reproductive material: a challenge for the forests of tomorrow” – 2022)
“I’ve been working in the seeds and seedlings sector since 1981, as manager of the Joux drying plant, and since 2010 I’ve been the ONF’s national seeds and seedlings expert. INRAE supports us throughout the production cycle of forest reproductive material (FRM): variety creation, research into adaptive genetics, selection of stands for seed harvests, scientific and technical support for fruit-bearing management of seed orchards, reporting and analysis of statistical surveys on FRM produced and management of provenance tests. These technical and scientific bases are useful both for the management of MFR resources and for their use, particularly in the context of assisted migration of species and provenances. The adaptation of tree species to changing environments is one of the major challenges facing foresters. Many species, such as Norway spruce, beech and ash, are suffering from dieback, and the question of how to renew these stands arises. While we are not ruling out any forest regeneration scenarios, we need scientists who are close to the ground to develop them.
Testimonial from our thematic dossier
Thematic dossier
Forest reproductive material: a challenge for the forests of tomorrow
Thanks to French public policies focused on reforestation through planting, France has increased its forest area by 1.5 million hectares in 50 years. But 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 a more resilient forest by guaranteeing the genetic origin and quality of forest seeds.
