LIFEGENMON combines efforts of 6 partners from 3 countries/states (Germany/Bavaria, Greece and Slovenia), and shall last from July 2014 till June 2020. The total finances are 5.484.162 M€, from which the EU shall finance almost 50% (2,7 M€); partners of the project have to contribute the other 50% from their own (national) sources.

The partners are: Slovenian Forestry Institute (Coordinator), Slovenia Forest Service; Centre for information service, co-operation and development of NGOs; Bayerisches Amt für forstliche Saat- und Pflanzenzucht; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; General Directorate of Forests and Agricultural Affairs - Decentralized Administration of Macedonia – Thrace.

Official project website: http://www.lifegenmon.si 

Project presentation
Sustainable forest management is based on the long-term adaptability of forest ecosystems and starts at the lowest, namely the gene level. Forest genetic monitoring (FGM) is an early warning system to aid the assessment of a species response to environmental change at a long-term temporal scale.
Transect from Germany to Greece with two test monitoring sites per Germany, Slovenia and Greece (location to be decided within B1) and ICP level I monitoring sites in the background.

Transect from Germany to Greece with two test monitoring sites per Germany, Slovenia and Greece (location to be decided at the begining of the project) and ICP level I monitoring sites in the background.

The aims of our project are:

  • To define optimal indicators and verifiers for monitoring of genetic diversity changes in time across a transect from Bavaria to Greece for two selected target species, a stand forming broadleaf (Fagus sylvatica) and a stand forming coniferous species (Abies alba / Abies borisii-regis complex)
  • To prepare guidelines for forest genetic monitoring for these two and additional five forest trees species (Populus nigra, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus nigra, Prunus avium, Quercus petraea / robur complex), which differ in their biology and distribution, for implementation of FGM at a national, regional and EU scale
  • To prepare a Manual for Forest Genetic Monitoring for implementation at the EU level
  • To prepare a Decision support system for an optimal choice of the level of FGM based on needs and means
  • To organize series of workshops / trainings for the forestry sector to be capable of implementing FGM according to standardized procedures in their territories
  • To prepare background professional documents / guidelines for policy makers at the national, regional and the EU level for supporting development of possible new regulations at the national level, the Forest Europe process and future European Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation policies and strategies
  • To discuss and disseminate the FGM among different target audiences and stakeholders to promote the use and results of this early warning system as a tool for sustainable forest management
  • To establish a well functioning internationally linked team of forestry professionals working in and for FGM.

Transect from Germany to Greece with two test monitoring sites per Germany, Slovenia and Greece (location to be decided at the begining of the project) and EUFGIS DGCU for Fagus sylvatica including its distribution range in the background.

Constitution, aims and specific roles of the Advisory Board (AB) and Networking:

  • To form an operational Advisory Board with representatives of important national and international stakeholders from the three participating countries, the countries from the transect across the SE Europe and from the EUFORGEN programme
  • The transnational dimension will be further enhanced by participation of experts, as National Focal Points (NFP), from the countries in a transect from Bavaria to Greece. They shall provide information on forestry policies and the state of forest genetic resources (FGR) in their countries, potentially also in their neighbouring countries. They shall have (and / or provide) access to any permanent sites and information in their countries and shall facilitate interactions with policy makers within their territories.
  • Also, a number of stakeholders and policy makers from the three participating countries will be consulted and shall participate in the Advisory Board.
  • Additionally, the Steering Committee (SC) of EUFORGEN (the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme) shall be invited to nominate three representatives to participate as experts, providing an effective NETWORKING within the EU community involved in advancement of implementation of FGR conservation and monitoring principles.

More information:
prof. dr. Hojka Kraiger, Project Coordinator, hojka.kraigher@gozdis.si
Tjaša Baloh, Project Manager, tjasa.baloh@gozdis.si

Presentation on official site Natura2000, The Treasures of Slovenian Nature:
http://www.natura2000.gov.si/index.php?id=89&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=432&cHash=87468b8cf32f6d2dace2114d0c994282 

Presentation on officail site of Life+ programme:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/newsarchive2014/april/index.htm#life2014