Faced with the challenges posed by climate change, new European policies call for new forest management aiming at increasing resilience of European forests and intensified efforts to restore forest ecosystems through massive tree plantations by 2030, in full respect of ecological principles. This can only be achieved if forest genetic resources (FGR) are better known, protected, and managed sustainably, and forest reproductive material (FRM), such as fruits, seeds, cones and plant parts, is used adequately, supported by a well-developed nursery sector and widespread social acceptance.

OptFORESTS stands as an instrumental project to achieve long-term impacts related to tackling climate change and natural disasters while maintaining or increasing forest biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to support international agreements and EU policy under the European Green Deal, linking with similar initiatives in other continents.