PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Forests are of utmost importance to the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. They make an important contribution to rural development, providing important social, economic and environmental functions. However, every year, thousands of hectares of forests are damaged in the Mediterranean region by wildfires. Conditions that prevail after these fires are favourable to regeneration through the transplantation of seeds rather than natural processes. Planting carried out in this way is limited to a few species that can be easily produced on a large scale, resulting in a ‘restored’ ecosystem characterised by low biodiversity. A major problem for the large-scale production of some ecologically important forest species is the lack of efficient germination treatments that will break down seed dormancy. A second problem is the lack of suitable cultivation protocols that will lead to their successful large-scale production.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the LIFE Biodiversity project VERENIKE was to enhance biodiversity during the restoration of fire-disturbed ecosystems by introducing a new technology, based on the pre-cultivation in mini-plugs of a wide range of species. The project activities included: the collection of high-quality seed material and the evaluation of seed germination potential; the development of seed germination and cultivation protocols; and the establishment of a prototype unit for the large-scale production of ecologically important forest species. The project aimed to produce seedlings using the new technology and transplant them into three study areas in Central Macedonia, where their growth will be monitored and evaluated. The plan is that the system for the large-scale production of reforestation material from a wide range of species will be introduced to public forest service nurseries in Greece through training programmes and seminars for forestry staff.
RESULTS
The VERENIKE project developed a new methodology, involving the germination and cultivation of a wide range of forest species in mini-plugs, for the post-fire restoration of forest ecosystems. This was the first time in Greece that seedlings of a great variety of species have been used to reforest burnt areas in an effort to keep intact the area's biodiversity. The project team demonstrated the developed methodology to public forest nurseries, through a series of seminars, workshops and guided visits.
To demonstrate the new methodology, the project team collected, cleaned and stored more than 65 kg of seed from 26 targeted species. This led to an improved knowledge regarding seed collection and handling (cleaning and storage). Different pre-treatment methods to overcome dormancy were tested and germination protocols were developed for 22 of the 26 targeted species; 12 of these protocols were for species new to such cultivation and therefore particularly valuable for the production of seedlings by forest nurseries. The project team developed growth and cultivation manuals for seedlings in mini-plugs, for 9 of the 26 targeted species (as foreseen).
The project constructed a prototype system, with the capacity to produce numerous high-quality seedlings for a variety of the targeted species throughout the year. This was operated in the nursery of Nea Chalkidona, where it produced between 20 000 and 75 000 seedlings per cultivation period during the project duration. The project team validated the prototype for its technical and biological operation, and produced a subset of seedlings of the targeted species for reforestation activities. The prototype, which functions automatically with controlled photoperiod, irrigation frequency, temperature and duration of rotation, continues to be used by the nursery for regular production purposes, where it is expected to increase productivity and income. An evaluation conducted by the project team confirmed the necessary quality and behaviour in the field of seedlings produced by the prototype, in comparison to traditional nursery practices.
In the field, the project reforested three pilot areas using seedlings from the 26 targeted species produced by the prototype or traditional nursery practices (18 different species at each site). The survival and growth characteristics of the transplanted seedlings were monitored for two years to assess the success of the developed methodology, and the ability of the species to overcome transplantation shock and adverse field conditions. The results provided guidelines and advice as to which species are more suitable for each site, and showed that reforestation may be implemented with a large number of different species, in order to conserve the biodiversity of burnt forest ecosystems.
The new methodology was demonstrated to the wider forestry and tree nursery communities (public, private, academic) through the organisation of seminars, workshops and guided visits to the premises of the Nea Chalkidona nursery and the pilot reforested areas. The project disseminated its results at national and international conferences. All the regenerated sites are in close proximity to residential areas and accessible to visitors, enabling people to enjoy the benefits directly. Scientists, students and the general public can visit the sites to observe the reforested plots, with their information noticeboards.
The project ensured synergies with EU policies as it contributed to climate change mitigation through an increase of the sequestration and storage capacity of CO2 and also the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy in particular conservation of forest biodiversity. The project demonstrated that more than one native species may be used to regenerate burnt areas in Greece, and provided valuable lessons for foresters, students and other stakeholders. The next step is to introduce the developed methodology into public forest service nurseries in Greece.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
