Additional information

The guidance material developed by IRSTEA takes into account the climate risks, silvicultural rotation, species and area of use. It helps to avoid planting new and identical stands, which are unable to develop and adapt to the changing environmental conditions. The information is compiled in sixty individual sheets, one per species. Each sheet explains the main threats posed by climate change, recommendations about suitable locations and advisable forest reproductive material (FRM) for each area. This FRM refers to genetic varieties or provenances of the species that have shown higher adaptive potential for the local conditions in previous trials. Each sheet includes a description of the genetic material studied, which is also very valuable information for tree nurseries.

This advice is only relevant to reforestation projects by planting or direct seeding and should not be transposed to natural regeneration. Furthermore, the application of advice on the use of varieties in order to adapt a forest stand to climate change must be part of a broader approach considering the different options that are possible, e.g. alternative silvicultural treatments.