H2020 FORGENIUS Project: Improving access to FORest GENetic resources and information and services for end users

During the second reporting period, FORGENIUS has reached its cruising speed. All work packages have advanced from the establishment of protocols and the initial phases of data collection to the materialization of the main products that the project is expected to deliver. FORGENIUS is a highly complex and heterogeneous initiative, bringing together scientists from multiple research fields who were previously unaccustomed to sharing their research, as well as a range of sensitivities ranging from pure research to pure management. The multiple mechanisms, represented by the first six work packages, constitute an efficient and optimized chain of information transmission, from science to management and vice versa. The ultimate goal of the project, like a flower at the tip of a flowering plant's stem, is a new information system for describing the network of Genetic Conservation Units, along with an intuitive interface that allows the user to navigate the system without assistance.

We are pleased to announce that the collection of genomic, ecophysiological, and environmental data that feeds the new multidisciplinary and dynamic information system is underway, and that both the Information System and the Query Interface are now almost in their final form. This situation will become evident upon reading this report. In other words, although we are barely at the end of the second Reporting Period, which corresponds to only 60% of the project duration, we can already confidently state that FORGENIUS is delivering on its promise. Much work remains to be done, and the practical obstacles we have faced and still face cannot be underestimated. However, the facts are clear: at month 36 of 60, most of the expected outputs are clearly defined, developed, and, in some cases, almost finalized. Reading the individual Work Package reports will duly reflect this. To say that all partners have demonstrated exceptional commitment to FORGENIUS is an understatement. So far, everyone has demonstrated a strong commitment to achieving their goals and contributing to those of others. The teams involved in each work package have demonstrated a perfect understanding of how the different actions come together to produce a coherent, high-quality final result. This holds great promise for the rest of the project and gives us confidence that even more exciting and high-level actions will be carried out during the final phase of the project.

WP1 has made significant progress in developing models that connect high-throughput remote sensing data with tree and forest resilience, a necessary step for generalizing conservation network characterization. WP2 has compiled a wealth of information on the traits that enable trees to withstand environmental challenges, linking it to WP1 and progressing to WP3, which has made significant progress in determining the genetic basis of these adaptive traits. WP4 has advanced the genomic characterization of Genetic Conservation Units and the determination of relevant evolutionary parameters that help track adaptive potential. WP5 has defined the core structure, code, and new EUFGIS Information System, and is already integrating new data as it becomes available. WP6 has produced the beta version of the attractive new query web application for the Information System. WP7 has streamlined project communication with new high-impact initiatives, such as public webinars and the newsletter. All of these initiatives have been closely coordinated, yet remain independent, and contribute to the success of FORGENIUS.tem and the ability to gather the information it needs.