Tree and forest biological diversity : a treasure chest of European global wealth, well-being, resilience and leadership for the future

Horizon Europe projects eco2adapt, FORGENIUS, FRUITDIV and OptFORESTS host an event on March 17th 2026, in Brussels, gathering European experts from research and policy to discuss nature-positive actions.

Location
Maison Irène et Frédéric Joliot Curie
100 rue du Trône 1050 - Brussels
 

Programme

9.00 - 9.30 : Registration and coffee

9.30 - 9.45 : Welcome

9.45 - 10.15 : Introduction | Ensuring protection and maintain resilience of tomorrow’s trees and forests : what expectations for Europe ?

10.15 - 11.15 : Session 1 - Gaining a better understanding of forest genetic resources (FGR) and promoting tree and forest biodiversity

Context : Forest trees, including wild crop relatives, remain largely undomesticated and harbour vast amounts of untapped genetic diversity. Conserving and harnessing this diversity is essential for maintaining vital ecosystem services that support the European economy and the well-being of its citizens.

• From European Framework to National Impact : Building and Characterizing Spain’s Genetic Conservation Unit Network
  Speaker : Delphine Grivet (INIA-CSIC)
• Better characterising fruit tree wild diversity to exploit its untapped potential for sustainable agriculture
  Speaker : Véronique Decroocq, Coordinator of FRUITDIV (INRAE)
• FGR and ecosystem services under present and future scenarios : an explorative expert-based study in Europe
  Speaker : Laura Secco and Mauro Masiero (University of Padova)

11.15 - 11.30 : Coffee break

11.30 - 12.00 : Session 2 - Together for Tomorrow’s Forests - Securing Europe’s Green Leadership

Context : Current INRAE-led Horizon projects aim to ensure that biodiversity and its role are taken into account by forestry, agriculture and nature-preservation stakeholders at local, national and European level, in order to guarantee the conservation and resilience of trees and forests, and associated economic sectors.

• Growing Europe’s Forests for the Future : Nursery Sector Priorities for Meeting Green Deal Objectives
  Speaker : Heino Konrad (BFW)
• Assessing stakeholders’ awareness of the value and importance of fruit tree wild diversity
  Speaker : Fulya Batur (ARCADIA)

12.00 - 12.30 : Round table & debate - Towards a multilevel biodiversity for resilient forests in the face of climate change

12.30 - 14.00 Lunch

14.00 - 15.00 : Session 3 - Adapting Europe’s Forests for 2030 and Beyond

Context : The Commission is developing a new integrated framework for European climate resilience and risk management to help Member States prevent and prepare for the growing impacts of climate change. How can biodiversity and nature-positive actions contribute to maintain the resilience of tomorrow’s trees and forests ?

Moderator : Daniela Kleinschmit, President of IUFRO

• Planting the right trees in the right place for the right purpose in light of Europe's 2030 targets
  Speaker : Alexia Stokes, Coordinator of eco2Adapt (INRAE) 
• Local perspectives on change and adaptation in forest management. Insights from France, Germany and Spain
  Speaker : Philipp Mack (University of Freiburg)
• How to adapt? Do legislation and certification support or hinder adaptation to climate change
  Speaker : Frank Berninger (University of Eastern Finland)
• Market-driven mechanisms towards a climate-resilient bioeconomy
  Speaker : Jo van Brusselen (European Forest Institute)

15.00 - 15.30 : Concluding words

Registration