H2020 B4EST Project: Adaptive BREEDING for productive, sustainable, and resilient FORESTS under climate change
- Type Project
- Status Filled
- Execution 2018 -2022
- Assigned Budget 6.000.000,00 €
- Scope Europeo
- Main source of financing H2020
- Project website Proyecto B4EST
The objective of B4EST is to increase the survival, health, resilience, and productivity of forests in the face of climate change and natural disturbances, while maintaining genetic diversity and key ecological functions, and fostering a competitive bioeconomy in the EU. B4EST will provide forest tree breeders, forest managers and owners, and policymakers with:
- Improved scientific knowledge of adaptation profiles and sustainable productivity, as well as the added value of raw materials in European tree species important for forestry.
- New and flexible strategies for adaptive tree improvement.
- Genotypes of trees with great adaptive and economic value.
- Decision-support tools for the selection and use of Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) balancing production, resilience, and genetic diversity, including case studies developed with industry partners.
- Integrative performance models to guide FRM deployment at stand and landscape levels.
- Economic analysis of risks/benefits/costs.
- Policy recommendations.
B4EST will leverage resources developed in current and past European projects to develop, together with forest breeders, forest managers and owners, and industry, operational solutions that improve forest adaptation to climate change and strengthen the competitiveness of the European forest sector. To meet the geographical, economic, and social needs of forestry in the EU, B4EST will work with eight conifers and broadleaves (six native and two non-native) with advanced breeding programs (European spruce, Scots pine, maritime pine, poplar, Douglas fir, and eucalyptus) or that are case studies of forests threatened by pests (ash) or valuable non-wood products (stone pine).
Our approach will generate a high degree of data and knowledge integration, including novel and multiple target traits and their trade-offs; genomic information; temporal and spatial assessments across a wide range of environments; stakeholder demands; and risk perceptions and acceptability of new breeding strategies by forest owners and managers.
To help forest scientists and professionals assess the impacts of climate change and plan adaptation strategies, the Climate Matching Tool and Climate Downscaling Tool (https://b4est.eu/tools) provide free and easy access to historical and future climate data. Revised and new genetic experiments using response norms at different spatial and temporal scales identified key environmental drivers such as cold, drought, and biotic stresses, and confirmed significant genetic variation for phenotypic plasticity of important tree responses. The new climate data were used to analyze projections of tree performance in future climates, with specific emphasis on both prediction uncertainty and risk assessment.
Three new 50,000 SNP genotyping tools were developed for six major species (Fraxinus spp., Poplar spp., Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, P. pinea, and P. pinaster) and have been commercialized worldwide. High investments in genome-scale genotyping enabled unprecedented resolution of species genetic structures, which could efficiently aid in FRM traceability. Furthermore, the identification of numerous polymorphisms linked to specific adaptation could rapidly benefit the enrichment of current breeding populations.
The project has extended genomic evaluation to species for which resources did not exist, such as ash and stone pine. As an emerging field in genomic evaluation, the inclusion of reaction standards and available multi-omics information demonstrated its potential interest. The slight to moderate advantages of adopting genomic evaluation observed in the seven case studies include increased selection accuracy, the possibility of limiting multi-trait phenotyping costs, and a significant reduction in candidate evaluation time. New breeding guidelines highlighting the specificities, weaknesses, and prospects of current breeding programs are ready for dissemination. Two decision-support tools were developed and are available both as research platforms and as operational tools for use by foresters. Input from stakeholders and end-users on their preferences for the design of decision-support tools contributed to the development of the tools. The Planter's Guide is a joint Nordic initiative for Scots pine and spruce, which aims to select optimal seed sources in the Nordic countries under current and future climate conditions. The Luberon2 simulation tool (https://b4est.eu/luberon2), available through the Capsis platform, facilitated the investigation of the impacts of different silvicultural scenarios on genetic diversity under stochastic disturbance events.
The four regional scenarios showed considerable diversity across regions in the prevailing challenges related to forest and forestry sustainability. However, the implementation of an improved forest management (FRM) system appeared to play an important role in addressing these challenges in all situations. A synthesis of regulatory obstacles and emerging opportunities for implementing the transnational use of FRM has been developed.
With 160 million hectares in 2020, forests cover approximately 39% of the EU-28 land area, which is key for biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and the supply of renewable raw materials for the bioeconomy. European forests are experiencing rapid climate change, characterized by high uncertainty regarding its timing and magnitude. Climate change increases the vulnerability of forests to damage and disease, fostering abiotic and biotic threats that affect forest sustainability and cause severe economic losses.
The strategic objective of B4EST was to increase forest resilience and productivity in the face of climate change, while maintaining genetic diversity and key ecological functions, and fostering a competitive bioeconomy in the EU. To address the geographical, economic, and social needs of forestry in Europe, B4EST aimed to work with eight coniferous and broad-leaved species through advanced breeding programs or case studies of forests threatened by pests. To achieve this objective, B4EST aimed to achieve the following scientific, technological, and implementation breakthroughs:
- To improve scientific understanding of species vulnerability to major disturbances and of the trade-offs between production, resistance/resilience, and reproductive capacity. Species and population responses to climatic trends and major disturbances (frost, drought, biotic insults) have been learned through long-term genetic field testing, experiments in controlled environments, and identification of specific genetic adaptations. While well-documented trade-offs between growth, reproductive performance, tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors, and wood quality across different environments have been confirmed, the new results showed no obvious limitations for multi-trait breeding.
- Diversify the portfolio of forest reproductive material (FRM), which requires:
- The identification of species, genetic pools and relevant genotypes.
- Defining optimal genetic diversity to preserve the adaptive capacity of planted forests under conditions of high uncertainty.
- The development of cost-effective and rapid improvement strategies that address diversity and rapidly changing environmental and economic contexts. Specific efforts were made to assess adaptive capacity (genetic variation at the provenance and individual levels) and phenotypic plasticity patterns for response to abiotic (frost, drought) and biotic stressors. A conceptual approach to selection based on group (population) performance was developed, and simulation studies showed that adapted silvicultural scenarios based on managing genetic diversity could help maintain stand-level performance.
- Facilitate access to the FRM portfolio for forest managers through decision-making tools and recommendations. Local and regional assessments of vulnerabilities and opportunities are crucial for identifying efficient adaptation strategies. The consortium's industrial partners addressed this challenge from the end-user perspective. Guidelines for the implementation and silvicultural management of enhanced FRM have been developed, considering climate projections, natural disturbance risks, and end-user requirements and acceptance. These guidelines provide a link to the developed decision-making tools and are disseminated on the project website and during stakeholder events.
- Integrate a landscape-level view and a cross-national analysis of the forest sector's risks, costs, and benefits. In four European regions, research teams, together with stakeholders, identified the most important challenges and objectives related to the use of enhanced FRM and described alternative implementation and management strategies currently under evaluation.
The objective of B4EST is to increase the survival, health, resilience, and productivity of forests in the face of climate change and natural disturbances, while maintaining genetic diversity and key ecological functions, and fostering a competitive bio-based economy in the EU. B4EST will provide forest tree breeders, forest managers and owners, and policymakers with:
- Improved scientific knowledge of adaptation profiles and sustainable productivity, as well as the added value of raw materials, in important European tree species for forestry.
- New and flexible adaptive tree improvement strategies.
- Genotypes of trees of great economic and adaptive value.
- Decision-support tools for selecting and using forest reproductive material (FRM) while balancing production, resilience, and genetic diversity, including case studies developed with industry partners.
- Integrative performance models to guide FRM implementation at the stand and landscape levels.
- Economic analysis of risks/benefits/costs.
- Policy recommendations.
B4EST will leverage resources developed by past and current EU projects to develop, together with tree breeders, forest managers and owners, and industry, operational solutions to better adapt forests to climate change and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU forest-based sector. To address the geographical, economic, and social needs of forestry in the EU, B4EST will work with eight (six native, two non-native) conifers and broadleaves with advanced breeding programs (Norway spruce, Scots pine, maritime pine, poplar, Douglas fir, eucalyptus) or that are case studies of forests threatened by pests (ash) or valuable non-wood products (stone pine).
Our approach will result in a high degree of data and knowledge integration, involving multiple new target traits and their trade-offs; genomic information; temporal and spatial assessments across a wide range of environments; stakeholder demands; and risk perception and acceptability of new improvement strategies by forest owners and managers.
Forest resources are under pressure due to climate change, invasive species, and growing industrial demand. Selective breeding of more resilient trees could help ensure that European forests retain their diversity and productivity. The environmental and economic importance of forests is widely recognized. They provide habitats for a host of living organisms, help control precipitation, evaporation, and water flows, and prevent soil erosion. Furthermore, forests provide timber, as well as a wide variety of non-wood forest products, such as fruits, resins, and medicines. As Europe moves away from fossil fuels, demand for forest biomass is projected to continue to increase.
This trend represents a threat to existing forest ecosystems, which are already under pressure from climate change and invasive species with no natural predators. There is a growing awareness among experts of the need for new adaptation strategies to preserve the multifunctionality of our valuable forests. Strengthening forest resilience The objective of the EU-funded B4EST project was to address these threats by increasing the resilience and productivity of forests with adapted forest genetic resources. Central to this approach was the promotion of a concept called new adaptive breeding. This approach takes into account the impacts of climate change and the resilience of various tree species, with the aim of fostering biodiversity and a competitive bioeconomy in the EU. “New adaptive breeding is essential for developing regional and national forest strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation,” explains Catherine Bastien, B4EST project coordinator, from INRAE (France).
The project began with a comprehensive analysis of the adaptive capacity of several tree species, both native and exotic, in European forests. This involved assessing their tolerance to various stressors. Genomic information and tools were then integrated into breeding strategies, and performance prediction models were combined with climate scenarios. Adaptation strategy planning for forests: Guidelines were developed for four European regions: the Nordic countries, Scottish forests, the Atlantic Coast Range, and the Central and Southern European floodplains. Research teams identified the most important challenges and objectives related to the use of improved forest reproductive material and outlined alternative management strategies. “The B4EST project has provided a better scientific understanding of species vulnerable to climate change and the trade-offs between productivity, resilience, and reproductive capacity,” says Bastien. “The new results showed no obvious limitations to multitrait breeding, which is excellent news for the development of forests with high adaptive capacity.” Tools to Enable Better Forest Management The project also developed tools to help forest scientists and professionals assess the impacts of climate change and plan adaptation strategies. These resources, called the Climate Matching Tool and Climate Downscaling Tool, are freely downloadable and provide easy access to historical and future climate data.
Three new genotyping tools were also developed for six important European tree species. “Two other decision-support tools were developed for foresters,” Bastien notes. “The planter’s guide focuses on Scots pine and spruce, to help users select optimal seed sources under current and future climate conditions.” A second simulation tool aims to help forest managers investigate the impacts of different climate scenarios on genetic diversity. Bastien and his team believe these insights and tools will be of great benefit to forest managers and policymakers, at a time when the impacts of climate change have become a reality. “Forestry experts, as well as conservation communities, now have access to all the project’s progress, as well as updated breeding guidelines,” he adds. “Tree breeding needs to be organized and carried out in a more collaborative way, and B4EST has provided updated, research-based information to help achieve this.”
A survey of the demands of various social groups for improved sustainable forest management (SFM) revealed high expectations for adaptive strategies such as tree species diversification, artificial regeneration with improved SFM, and enrichment with SFM better adapted to future climate change.
To meet future challenges, tree breeding must be organized and carried out in a more collaborative manner, both at the national and European levels. B4EST provided up-to-date research-based information for decision-making and policymaking at the regional level, as well as improving EU-level understanding of the diversity of challenges and solutions across regions. These results were incorporated into an EU- and Nordic-level policy brief, disseminated on the Horizon Results platform. Communication about B4EST's work will continue after the project's completion, with the B4EST website, blog, and social media channels serving as a central resource.
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT (INRAE)
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