The new B4EST policy brief looks at how forest tree breeding can contribute to EU policies, and sets out how forest tree breeding deployment and forest management can be a key tool for reaching the EU Green Deal goals.
The policy brief explores what challenges lie ahead for the future, and makes recommendations as to what policy changes are needed.
This policy brief produced by the B4EST project highlights the importance of forest tree breeding to support the EU Forest Strategy, Green Deal goals and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. The technique, methods and tools of tree breeding are imported from agriculture, and, in forestry, have been actively developed and adapted during the last century. Forest tree breeding has a high potential not only to contribute to mitigating climate change (for example enabling the selection of faster-growing trees), but also assists the adaptation of European forests to climate change. This serves the bioeconomy, ensuring forests continue to provide a wide range of products and services, and also facilitates landscape restoration after major ecological disasters.
Climate change can increase forest vulnerability to damage and disease, reduce forest health and productivity, and cause economic losses. B4EST’s goal is to increase jointly forest survival, health, resilience and productivity under these circumstances, while maintaining genetic diversity and key ecological functions, and fostering a competitive EU bio-based economy.
•What is forest tree breeding, where and how is it used?
•Why is it important in a global change context?
•How does it support EU Green Deal, forest strategy and biodiversity policies?
•What policies regulate its use?
•What challenges lie ahead?
•What policy changes are needed?
Download the policy brief to find out more!