PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Tree species of the Fagaceae family represent the dominant broadleaves, forming pure and mixed forest, in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Among them, evergreen oaks such as Holm oak (Quercus ilex, subsp. ballota in Spain and Portugal, and subsp. ilex in central Italy) and cork oak (Quercus suber), and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) characterise low and medium altitude forests that also support important agroforestry activities. Alien Invasive Forest Phytophthora (AIFP) are among the most relevant biotic stressors of evergreen oak and chestnut ecosystems in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Phytophthora cinnamomi is currently the most widespread and harmful AIFP in ecosystems in Southern Europe. In the Mediterranean and temperate forest ecosystems, climate change, causing more extreme events (e.g. drought and flooding) and increased temperatures (min, mean and max), are favouring the migration and diffusion into new environments of AIFP.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE FAGESOS aims to address and remediate outbreaks of Phytophthora cinnamomi diseases on evergreen Holm oak, cork oak, and sweet chestnut ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin, through the development and application of new integrated pest management (IPM) protocols.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Development, implementation and dissemination of three integrated pest management protocols, one for each target Fagaceae ecosystem, which enhance resilience against Phytophthora-induced decline.
- Three new biostimulants (molecules and microorganisms) tested and their efficacy against Alien Invasive Forest Phytophthora validated, as replacements for K-phosphonate banned under the new regulation on fertilisers (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009).
- Development of an integrating multispectral remote sensing approach, and stochastic and machine learning models, to map Phytophthora cinnamomi diseases. All of the project’s areas (18 119 ha) will be monitored; in addition, 110 000 ha of surrounding ecosystems will be ranked for disease dispersal risk, and all of the Mediterranean Fagaceae habitat (93 850 km2) mapped for disease impact, presence and potential habitat suitability for P. cinnamomi.
- Tested and validated drone treatments with K-phosphonate of chestnut forests/groves. A routine protocol will be prepared and 50 + 50 ha in pilot areas of Portugal and Italy treated and protected.
- Treatment of up to 1 070 ha, and protection of up to 18 119 ha of vulnerable areas, to stop the progression of Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback and mortality of Fagaceae forests/groves: chestnut orchards in Portugal (56 ha treated and 258 ha protected); chestnut groves and forests in Italy (338.4 ha treated and 2 181 ha protected); cork oak forest in the municipality of Monte San Biagio, Italy (50.7 ha treated and 160 ha protected); cork oak forest in the municipality of Fondi, Italy (total farm area of 22 ha protected); cork oak and holm oak stands in Italy (139 ha treated and 285 ha protected); cork oak dehesa in Los Alcornocales Natural Park, Spain (386 ha treated and 14 000 ha protected); and Holm oak dehesa in the municipality of Villaviciosa de Córdoba, Spain (99 ha treated and 1 214 ha protected).
- Reduced Phytophthora inoculum in the surface soil (20 cm) of treated areas by 80%.
- On average, a 40% recovery of symptomatic trees and 100% protection of non-symptomatic trees treated.
- Raised awareness among all the forest workers, farmers and agronomists present in project areas and engagement of at least 60% of them in capacity building workshops (1 220 participants); among 50% of inhabitants of project regions through off line communication activities (42 239 citizens) and among citizens in the broader project regions through online communication activities (1 373 323 citizens).
