REINFFORCE 2 has five work packages (WP1 to WP5). This project is therefore expected to expand and improve tools for monitoring climate change and its impact on forests in the Atlantic Arc regions, as well as to test the effectiveness of adaptation activities implemented by the partners in the previous REINFFORCE project.
Work Package 1: Capitalisation on previous REINFFORCE Interreg project: knowledge uptake on demonstration sites
The aim of the first work package is to make the most of the work and knowledge gained in the previous Interreg project REINFFORCE (2009-2012). During this project a unique infrastructure in the world was established with 38 arboretums and 41 demonstration sites located in 16 regions of the Atlantic Arc (Portugal: Norte, Algarve, Alentejo, Centro, Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Região Autónoma das Açores; Ireland: North and West, East and Central; Spain: Cantabria, Galicia, Basque Country, Navarra, Andalusia; France: Brittany, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays-de-la-Loire) corresponding to 16 contrasting bioclimatic regions.In the genetic provenance trials installed 10 years ago, data on growth, health status, climatology and phenology have been collected (CORREIA et al., 2018).
Data were collected annually. In some cases the arboretums have been damaged by fire, flooding or grazing, which prevented or interrupted data collection. However, this project aims to reactivate many of them and capitalise on the initial investment in installation and monitoring. During REINFFORCE2, monitoring data will be analysed to generate guidelines for the management and use of the studied plant material (Table 1). In addition, technical visits will be organised to visualise practical demonstrations of adaptive management in Atlantic forests to climate change.
Work Package 2: Big data and new ICT: Innovation for monitoring climate change impacts on forests
The main objective of the second work package is to test innovations that were not available in the previous REINFFORCE project to help monitor climate change impacts on Atlantic forests. In addition, this work package will improve the skills of REINFFORCE2 partners and stakeholders from the different partner and associated regions in relation to BIG DATA analysis, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and new information and communication technologies (ICT) applied to the forestry sector.
Work Package 3: Reinforcing network and fostering cooperation green infrastructure for adaptation to climate change
This work package aims to capitalise on the knowledge and results of the REINFFORCE project to enhance the REINFFORCE 2 network with new trials of similar species, but to match the new demand from local managers, and also to establish new demonstration sites on adaptive management based on REINFFORCE results. In this new project, 27 new arboreta trials will be established, with new partners such as Andalusia and Ireland at the extremes of Europe’s Atlantic Arc distribution. The REINFFORCE 2 arboretum network will consist of more than 50 arboretums where 2-3 genetic provenances of more than 40 species shared between all regions will be tested and monitored annually. The expansion of these arboreta to the extremes aims to include regions with predicted extreme weather events (floods in Ireland, heat waves in Andalusia) so that we can analyse the impact of climate change on Atlantic forests that will move in latitude over the 21st century (IPCC, 2023)
On the other hand, 29 new adaptive forest management demonstration sites will be established to join the network of 41 from the previous project in all Atlantic regions. The aim is to analyse and demonstrate the efficiency of different adaptive management measures proposed in each region (Figure 2). In addition, for the first time a partner institution is included as ENFI in Morocco that will be able to provide us with technical knowledge of forest management in drier areas, extending its involvement in the selection of species and provenances, seed suppliers and information on adaptive forest management practised in countries south of the REINFFORCE network. Finally, decision support tools will be developed at European and regional level. REINFFORCE 2 will generate and share quantitative information on the climatic parameters to be considered (frost limit, drought limit, …) when selecting a species for restoration or planting, as well as provide qualitative information on the ecosystem services provided by the species studied in the REINFFORCE network and REINFFORCE 2.
Work package 4:
This workpackage will contribute to the dissemination of the knowledge generated and the adoption and extension of management manuals through the web: https://reinfforce.plantedforests.org/publications/, as well as including all publications, products, videos, brochures and news derived from the project. Manuals will be produced for managers as decision support tools, databases and species selection recommendations. The set of information to be transferred is aimed at a wide audience and is also intended to facilitate the exchange of data and information between partners, with the aim of keeping the website active for at least 15 years from the IEFC.
During the project, 15 workshops will be held for different professional and non-professional stakeholders to inform society about the impact of climate change on forests and the adaptation measures that can be adopted based on the knowledge generated in the REINFFORCE 2 project. At the end of the project, an international conference with simultaneous translation (FR, EN, ES and PT) will be organised to present the new network of arboretum infrastructures, demonstration sites and all the results generated as well as their future potential.
Work package 5
This work package encompasses all activities that require significant coordination by the lead partner, IEFC. The management of the project as such, the organisation of the general assembly and steering committee meetings, but also the elaboration of the (technical and financial) reports required by INTERREG. This work package coordinates the drafting of common protocols defining how the new sites will be installed, how monitoring will be carried out and the necessary updates in the web database, eventually organising expert group meetings to address specific complex issues such as species selection, sensor selection, etc. IEFC also coordinates the purchase of seeds and the delivery of seedlings to all partners who will install new arboretums during the duration of the project.