Phase II 2000-2004

EUFORGEN continued to operate through the networks. The Picea abies Network broadened its scope and was renamed the Conifers Network. Likewise, the Quercus suber Network evolved into the Mediterranean Oaks Network, and the Social Broadleaves Network became the Temperate Oaks and Beech Network. By the end of Phase II, 32 countries had become EUFORGEN members.

EUFORGEN started to develop technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use of more than 20 species, targeted to practical managers. For each species, the guidelines summarize information on biology and ecology, distribution range, importance and use, genetic knowledge and threats to genetic diversity. The Populus nigra Network also produced a technical bulletin on the in situ conservation of black poplar.

The networks continued to develop conservation strategies for several tree species and started to develop so-called “common action plans”. These aim to share responsibilities for conservation of FGR in Europe by creating pan-European networks of primarily in situ conservation units for selected species covering their entire distribution ranges. The common action plans and network of conservation units formed the basis for the development of the pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees.