EUFGIS upgrade

FORGENIUS is upgrading the European Information System on Forest Genetic Resources (EUFGIS). The project will develop a totally new interface and adopt new technologies to run the information system and associated services. FORGENIUS will also generate new data and indices that will integrate with and complement existing information. The expanded EUFGIS will be a new tool for national authorities responsible for the management of the network of Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) in each country, as well as for the wider conservation community.

EUFGIS is the only transnational information system on forest genetic resources (FGR) in Europe. It currently contains information on more than 3500 Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) of 111 tree species from 35 European countries. Currently, data in EUFGIS have only limited climatic and environmental parameters associated with each GCU. FORGENIUS will link existing pan-European databases on climate and environment, to permit precise and continuously improving characterisation of FGR data in EUFGIS. FORGENIUS will also use remote sensing data to characterise GCUs and add genotype and phenotype data for 23 species.

EUFGIS is maintained by National Focal Points in European countries with regular updates. Since its establishment in 2010, European countries have started to follow the “pan-European minimum requirements for dynamic genetic conservation units of forest trees” set out in EUFGIS. These minimum requirements are based on the concept of dynamic conservation of genetic diversity, which emphasises the maintenance of evolutionary processes within tree populations to safeguard their potential for continuous adaptation. All the GCU characterisation data will be made available long-term through the information system.

Since 2010, EUFGIS data have been used to assess dynamic in situ and ex situ genetic conservation activities in Europe and to report on the status of FGR conservation to international processes like the Forest Europe report on the State of Europe’s Forests and the global State of the World FGR.

EUFGIS was one of the 17 actions supported by the European Commission under the Council Regulation (EC) No 870/2004 on genetic resources in agriculture. The information system is now maintained and developed as part of the European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN).