Mediterranean Forest Genetic Resources Network
MEDFORGEN Palestine
Strengthening Forest Genetic Resources Conservation, Scientific Capacity Building, and Regional Cooperation Across Mediterranean Ecosystems.
REGIONAL FOREST CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
Project Overview
The Mediterranean Forest Genetic Resources Network (MEDFORGEN) is a regional initiative coordinated by EFI/EFIMED to strengthen the conservation, sustainable management, and scientific assessment of forest genetic resources across Mediterranean ecosystems.
The initiative supports biodiversity resilience, climate adaptation, ecological restoration, and evidence-based forest conservation through regional cooperation, scientific capacity building, field inventories, genetic resource assessments, and higher education engagement.
As part of this network, An-Najah National University contributes to advancing forest genetic resources conservation and scientific collaboration in Palestine through academic participation, research support, and environmental capacity development.
PROJECT DETAILS
Key Project Information
📍
Region
Mediterranean Region
Southern Neighbourhood Mediterranean Countries
⏳
Duration
48 Months
Regional Cooperation & Capacity Building Initiativ
🌲
National Representative
Palestine
Higher Education Representative for Forest Genetic Resources
🏛
Coordinated By
EFI / EFIMED
European Forest Institute – Mediterranean Facility
🧬
Scientific Focus
Forest Genetic Resources
Conservation • Assessment • Restoration • Biodiversity
FUNDED BY
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
MEDFORGEN is a Mediterranean regional initiative supported through EFI/EFIMED to strengthen forest genetic resources conservation, scientific cooperation, biodiversity resilience, and environmental capacity building across participating Mediterranean countries.
PROJECT LEADERSHIP
Prof. Raed Alkowni
National Higher Education Representative – Palestine
Forest Biodiversity • Genetic Resources • Environmental Research
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
MEDFORGEN Timeline
A multi-year regional implementation framework supporting scientific cooperation, biodiversity assessment, conservation planning, and environmental capacity building across Mediterranean ecosystems.
🧭Phase 1 — Project Initiation & Coordination Months 1–6
- Institutional coordination
- Regional planning meetings
- National focal point engagement
- Initial framework development
🌿Phase 2 — Field Inventories & Ecological Assessment Months 7–18
- Species inventories
- Ecological monitoring
- Forest genetic resources documentation
- Baseline assessment activities
🧬Phase 3 — Genetic Conservation Planning Months 19–30
- Candidate GCU identification
- Conservation prioritisation
- Ecological evaluation
- Restoration strategy support
🎓Phase 4 — Capacity Building & Scientific Exchange Months 31–40
- Regional workshops
- Higher education engagement
- Technical training
- Scientific collaboration activities
📘Phase 5 — Dissemination & Long-Term Integration Months 13–18
- Knowledge dissemination
- Policy recommendations
- Regional reporting
- Long-term conservation integration
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Why Forest Genetic Resources Matter
Forest genetic resources represent the biological foundation of resilient Mediterranean ecosystems. Conserving genetic diversity within native forest and tree populations is essential for maintaining ecosystem stability, supporting climate adaptation, and protecting long-term biodiversity resilience across environmentally sensitive landscapes.
Mediterranean ecosystems are increasingly exposed to habitat fragmentation, land degradation, drought stress, biodiversity loss, and climate-related pressures. Preserving forest genetic diversity helps strengthen ecological recovery, improve adaptive capacity, and support sustainable ecosystem restoration under changing environmental conditions.
Through regional scientific cooperation, biodiversity monitoring, ecological assessment, and environmental capacity building, MEDFORGEN contributes to advancing evidence-based conservation strategies that protect Mediterranean forest ecosystems and their genetic heritage for future generations.
CORE CONSERVATION PILLARS
ِ🌿 Biodiversity Resilience
Supporting diverse and adaptive Mediterranean ecosystems.
🧬 Genetic Conservation
Protecting forest genetic variability and ecological heritage.
🌍 Climate Adaptation
Strengthening ecosystem resilience under environmental change.
🤝 Regional Scientific Cooperation
Advancing collaborative Mediterranean conservation research.
REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION
Mediterranean Research Network
MEDFORGEN connects higher education institutions, environmental experts, researchers, and conservation stakeholders across the Mediterranean region to strengthen collaborative forest genetic resources conservation and biodiversity research.
Through regional cooperation and scientific exchange, participating institutions contribute to ecological monitoring, conservation planning, biodiversity assessment, restoration strategies, and long-term environmental resilience initiatives.
The network also supports knowledge transfer, higher education engagement, scientific mobility, and cross-border collaboration aimed at advancing evidence-based conservation practices throughout environmentally sensitive Mediterranean ecosystems.
Mediterranean Cooperation
Higher Education Engagement
Scientific Exchange
Regional Biodiversity Conservation
REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Institutional Partners
Building long-term biodiversity conservation through collaboration between academic institutions, environmental organizations, governmental bodies, and regional conservation partners.
An-Najah National University
European Forest Institute
EFI Mediterranean Facility
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
Research & Conservation Framework
MEDFORGEN applies an integrated scientific framework that connects field inventories, genetic assessment, conservation planning, higher education engagement, and regional knowledge exchange to support long-term forest genetic resources conservation.
Baseline Assessment & Species Prioritisation
Collecting national Forest Genetic Resources data, assessing ecological and conservation status, and contributing to the identification of priority species.
Field Inventories & Genetic Sampling
Conducting field inventories, documenting species distribution and population conditions, and supporting sampling campaigns for candidate Genetic Conservation Units.
Genetic Conservation Units & Roadmaps
Contributing to the identification, characterisation, and management planning of candidate GCUs and national conservation roadmaps.
Research Publications & Scientific Outputs
Explore biodiversity research, conservation studies, and environmental scientific outputs related to Mediterranean forest genetic resources.
BUILDING MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIPS
Collaborate in Forest Genetic Resources Conservation
MEDFORGEN supports collaborative scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and environmental capacity building across Mediterranean ecosystems.
We welcome opportunities for regional cooperation, academic engagement, ecological research collaboration, and knowledge exchange initiatives that contribute to long-term biodiversity resilience and sustainable environmental conservation.