Presentation

The new threats posed to forests by climate change are presenting scientists with unprecedented challenges, involving extremely difficult management dilemmas. What can be done in the wake of more frequent and massive dieback and mortality events? Above all, what can be done to anticipate the adverse consequences of climate change, which are bound to intensify, given that there is no sign of any trend towards mitigation? Forest scientists need to improve their ability to observe the effects of extreme climatic events, better understand the natural mechanisms involved in the response of forest ecosystems, and find new nature-based adaptation solutions that will enable forests to be renewed.  This conference aims to contribute to these objectives by bringing together scientists and giving them the opportunity to present and discuss the latest results in these fields.  The conference will be organized into several sessions, focusing on the natural mechanisms of forest adaptation to climate, innovative approaches to forest renewal and observation of the consequences of climate change on forests. The conference will be held on November 12-15 in Orléans (France) and will include these three successive or parallel sessions

• 1.Plastic and evolutionary mechanisms of forest adaptation to climate
• 2.Silvicultural and genetic approaches to forest renewal
• 3. Tools and methods for observing the consequences of climate change on forests

This international conference is the second international FORESTIA (INRAE - France, INTA - Argentina, University of Huanta - Peru, Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco - Mexico) conference, after Bariloche 2019, Argentina.

This event is organised in the framework of the Sycomore ARD CVL Programme.

CONVENORS

Dr Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero, LE STUDIUM Visiting Researcher
FROM Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo - MX  
IN RESIDENCE AT Integrated Biology for the Development of Tree and Forest Diversity" (BioForA), Centre INRAE Val-de-Loire / ONF - FR

 

Dr Philippe Rozenberg
Integrated Biology for the Development of Tree and Forest Diversity" (BioForA), Centre INRAE Val-de-Loire / ONF - FR

 

Prof. Juan César Vilardi

Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires - AR

 

Dr Alejandro Martinez-Meier
INTA Bariloche - AR

 

This conference is organised under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 grant No 862221

 

 

 

Best talk, best student talk

4 prizes will be awarded:

• Best poster award
• Best student poster
• Best talk,
• Best student talk

Scientific committee (awarding prizes)

The committee who will be responsible for awarding the prizes will be formed of the guest speakers. The session moderators will also be chosen from among the guest speakers.

Interactive conference for the general public

A conference in French, designed to raise public awareness of the consequences of climate change on forests, will take place during the evening of the 2nd day of the conference. The conception of this conference is a task of the France-Argentina Esencia decentralized cooperation project.

 

Confirmed speakers

Click on the name to display the abstract

• Dr Rebecca Jordan, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) - AU

  

  Dr Rebecca Jordan

  Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) - AU

  Address: 15 College Rd, Sandy Bay, Tasmania 7005, AU

   Email: Rebecca.jordan@csiro.au

  Dr Rebecca Jordan is a Research Scientist at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. She is fascinated by how evolution and landscapes shape genetic variation within plants and how this knowledge can support forest ecosystem management to enhance adaptability now and into a changing future. Rebecca’s research combines genomic approaches with field experiments to investigate adaptative variation and potential future adaptability in trees, with outcomes directed to restoration and conservation – guiding seed sourcing to create resilient revegetation plantings and investigating how genomics could help predict vulnerability to climate change.

  Conserving evolutionary potential: understanding genomic variation to guide forest conservation and enhance adaptability to climate change 

  In a rapidly changing world, forest conservation and management are challenged with conserving the evolutionary potential of species, not simply their persistence. This is especially true for long-lived species such as trees, where rates of environmental change may outpace their capacity to adapt. Understanding how evolution has shaped variation across landscapes and how such variation could be harnessed to increase adaptability are key to informing conservation decisions that enhance resilience under climate change. Using eucalypts as an example, we showcase how understanding of adaptation to climate can be applied to conservation of forest systems. We show how landscape genomics can guide assisted gene flow for revegetation by assessing current patterns of adaptive variation. We present early results from a national-scale network of experimental trials testing the effectiveness of alternative provenancing strategies which aim to enhance adaptability of plantings by incorporating assisted gene flow. Finally, we explore the potential of genomics to predict maladaptation to climate change. We discuss results from genomic and glasshouse trials investigating the opportunities and uncertainties of genomic predictions, and the implications for genomic adaptation under climate change in trees more broadly. Together, this works highlights how understanding of evolutionary dynamics can help guide forest conservation that enhances adaptability in an uncertain future.

• Dr Patrick Lenz, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Natural Resources Canada- CA

  

  Dr Patrick Lenz

  Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Natural Resources Canada - CA

  Address: 1055 Du P.E.P.S. Street, P.O. Box 10380, G1V 4C7, Québec, QC, Canada

   Email: patrick.lenz@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

  Patrick Lenz is research scientist in forest genetics at the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre of Natural Resources Canada. His current research focusses on the development of genomic tree breeding tools to speed up the selection of planting stock with improved growth, wood quality and resilience in the context of climate change. Some of his top priorities include the research on resistance traits to climate anomalies to better understand their role in adaptation and breeding opportunities. Patrick has been member of the Canada Research Chair in Forest Genomics and co-PI of large forest genomics projects funded by Genome Canada, including his current co-lead with Jean Bousquet of the FastTRAC II project aiming at the scaling of genomic prediction for black- and red spruce breeding programs.

  Enhancing the adaptive potential of reforestation seedlings by combining wood anatomy, dendroecology and genomics

  Climate change and the recurrence of more frequent severe weather events are putting significant pressure on Canadian forest ecosystems, raising questions about their future health and productivity. Post-harvest reforestation is a common practice in Canadian boreal and temperate forests, which could serve as a strategy for mitigation of climate change effects when planting stocks are adapted to future climate predictions. However, this requires a thorough understanding of existing adaptive clines in reforested species and well characterizing genetic variation and control of adaptive traits themselves.

  To address these questions, our group combines genomic predictive tools, common garden experiments, and novel phenotyping methods to assess growth and wood structural responses to climatic stressors in different spruce species at the juvenile and mature stages. We have shown that intraspecific variation in wood anatomy and resilience of growth to drought episodes is under significant genetic control. Signs of local adaptation and contrasting adaptation strategies to drought were discovered in different spruce populations. In close collaboration with breeding programs, we have developed strategies to accelerate operational integration of novel adaptive traits into genomic prediction models that all together show promise for enhancing the selection for growth and adaptive traits and hence, to allow the production of high quality and adapted seedlings for future forests.

• Dr Carolina Pometti, University of Buenos Aires - AR

  

  Dr Carolina Pometti

  University of Buenos Aires - AR

  Address: Intendente Güiraldes s/n, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria (1428), Buenos Aires - AR

   Email: cpometti@ege.fcen.uba.ar

  Carolina Pometti obtained her Doctorate in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires, Argentina) in 2009. She made her postdoc during one year in the same institution. In 2011, she was incorporated to the career of the scientific researcher in the CONICET. She is also a teacher assistant in the Ecology, Genetics and Evolution department of the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, since 2003. Her research activity is centered on genetic populations of woody species by means of molecular and morphological markers. Currently, she is studying evidences of local adaptation in phenotypic traits in natural populations with the aim of proposing new strategies of sampling for conservation, management and genetic improvement.

  Local adaptation in morphological traits of Vachellia species (Fabaceae) across diverse environments in Argentina 

  Different processes including global climatic change and anthropogenic activities, could affect plant species range and abundance since they tend to occupy new favourable areas or decline in increasingly hostile locations. Moreover, the interaction between a species and the environment generally varies across its range and the quantification of such variation in natural populations could reflect the strength of natural selection on phenotypic traits.Consequently, a wide range of species across various habitats can exhibit modifications in their morphological traits. Vachellia species are natural pioneers, they can tolerate extremely dry conditions, and they adapt well to eroded soils, playing an important role in soil conservation. Particularly, V. aroma and V. caven are two economically and ecological important species in South America and are being studied in this work. The purpose of this study was to identify signals of selection on phenotypic traits in natural populations of V. aroma and V. caven across diverse habitats in Argentina. The phenotypic traits were compared with molecular markers assessed in the same populations through the univariate PST-FST test. In both species, we detected signals of local adaptation for some traits and stabilizing selection for others. These findings indicate that choosing among provenances is a viable management strategy to enhance traits that exhibit local adaptation.

  Co-authors: Pometti C., Bessega C., Saidman B., Vilardi J.

• Prof. Sergio Rossi, University of Quebec in Chicoutimi - CA

  

  Prof. Sergio Rossi

  University of Quebec in Chicoutimi - CA

  Address: 555, boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi (Québec), Canada G7H 2B1

   Email: sergio_rossi@uqac.ca 

  My research focuses on forest ecology and ecophysiology, and in particular on modelling the responses of plants to multiple environmental factors and predicting the phenological adaptation of trees to climate changes. Investigations include long-lasting observations in permanent plots across wide geographical ranges, manipulated experiments in nature, assisted migration of ecotypes, and experimental designs under controlled conditions. My actual projects are related to the dynamics of tree growth and reproduction at local to global scale and how the effects of climate change on forest productivity can be taken into account by the new strategies of forest management. I am considered a pioneer of the studies on wood formation in temperate and cold ecosystems and treeline ecotones.

  Sugar maple under climate change: challenges and opportunities for the Northern regions of Canada

  Climate change may affect the growth conditions of maple, allowing the exploitation of maple products, especially wood and maple syrup, in the areas located at the Northern border of their distribution. However, warming could shift the phenology of trees, and modify the climate to which local populations have developed. The higher temperatures could facilitate the growth of maple, but the enhanced occurrence of heat waves risk to affect the cool and wet conditions characterizing the regions already dominated by maple. Earlier springs advance bud burst and expose young tissues to an increased risk of frost damage. Globally, such changes could affect the distribution of maple, with significant contractions expected at the southern limit, which could be partially offset by a slowly Northward expansion of the species. Maple stands located at the northern limit of the species could benefit from local warming under favourable soil conditions and if precipitation does not become limiting. Our talk presents the results of projects on the phenology and adaptation of sugar maple ecotypes carried out in plantations and in controlled environments, and describes the implications for the maple in North-eastern North America. We will discuss the new opportunities for the forest and maple industry in northern regions.

• Dr Philippe Rozenberg, Integrated Biology for the Development of Tree and Forest Diversity" (BioForA), Centre INRAE Val-de-Loire / ONF - FR

  

  Dr Philippe Rozenberg

  Integrated Biology for the Development of Tree and Forest Diversity" (BioForA), Centre INRAE Val-de-Loire / ONF - FR

  Address: 2163 avenue de la Pomme de Pin, CS 40001 Ardon, 45075 Orléans Cedex 2, France

   Email: Philippe.rozenberg@inrae.fr 

  Philippe Rozenberg is a senior researcher at INRAE Orléans, specializing in forest ecosystem adaptation to climate change. His work focuses on dendroecology, studying tree growth rings to understand trees’ historical responses to environmental changes. He also analyses phenotypic plasticity, examining how individuals adapt to environmental fluctuations, and uses population evolution through natural selection. Additionally, he explores science-society synergies, promoting climate adaptation solutions that are scientifically rigorous and respectful of forest users' diverse interests. His research advances both ecological understanding and practical solutions to environmental challenges.

  Is the limited local adaptation of a mountain forest species an advantage in the face of climate change?

  Findings from studies on the local adaptation of Alpine larch along an altitudinal gradient of over 1000 m (representing an 8°C difference in mean annual temperature) suggest low local adaptation at each altitude. These studies, combining genetic markers, reciprocal transplant experiments, and dendroecological analyses (annual ring growth), highlight key conclusions:

  Gene flow: Extensive gene flow occurs across the gradient, facilitated by pollen dispersal. Seeds at any altitude are likely fertilized by trees from different altitudes, maintaining strong genetic connectivity between populations.

  Environmental variation: Phenotypic differences in annual rings and phenology (ring formation, budburst) are mainly due to environmental variation, not genetic differences.

  These findings indicate high evolutionary potential for adaptation at all altitudes. For example, at mid and high altitudes, seedlings may inherit drought-resistant traits from low-altitude trees, which are more exposed to water stress from global warming. Although low-altitude larches are more vulnerable to drought, experiments show that European larch can acclimate to warmer lowland climates. However, these larches are susceptible to pathogens like larch canker, which has not yet affected mountain populations, with one exception.

• Dr Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero, Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo - MX

  

  Dr Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero

  Michoacan University of Saint Nicholas of Hidalgo - MX  

  Address: v. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n,  Morelia, Michoacán 58330, México

   Email: cuauhtemoc.saenz@umich.mx 

  Professor at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México. Bachelor degree in  Biology (Universidad Metropolitana – Xochimilco, Mexico city), Master in Forestry Sciences (Universidad Autónoma  Chapingo, Estado de México) and Ph.D. in Forestry  (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA).  Sabbatical years at : Centre de foresterie des Laurentides, Quebec city, Canada; UMR Biodiversité Gènes & Communautés, INRA, Cestas, France; UMR BioForA, INRAE, Orleans, France. Research interest is about the management of forest genetic resources considering climatic change: estimation of genetic differentiation (for quantitative/adaptive traits) among conifer populations (along altitudinal gradients), to decide seed and seedling movements for reforestation programs.

  Forest declination due to climatic change.  The need of assisted migration and a new silviculture

  The 2023-2024 El Niño induced an acceleration of global warming that far exceeded 1.5 °C, bringing several forests close to critical tipping point. The Boreal summer of 2023 witnessed numerous catastrophic forest fires (e.g. over 18 million hectares of forest burned in Canada), as well as many similar catastrophic forest fires in South America in 2024.  The widely accepted goal of sustainable silvicultural practice, which aims to maintain forests in a state resembling natural forest ecosystem, is increasingly becoming an idealistic dream rather than an attainable goal. The time has come to address painful forest management decisions, such as anticipated thinning to reduce water competition and the gradual replacement of native forest populations with more drought-resistant provenances and species through assisted migration. Examples of ongoing research to guide such management decisions are: (a) Species range expansion of Abies religiosa beyond its upper altitudinal limit of 3500 m a.s.l, by assisted migration and using shrubs as nurse plants, to establish stands to eventually provide overwintering sites for migratory Monarch butterfly populations under future climates in central Mexico. (b) Analysis of wood microdensity response to the climatic transfer distance of Pseudotsuga menziesii provenance planted in Corsica and Massif Central, France, to select genotypes more resistant/tolerant to warmer and drier summers in the region.

   

  Co-authors: Philippe Rozenberg (UMR BioForA 0588 INRAE-Orleans), Anne-Sophie Sergent (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina)

• Dr Anne Sophie Sergent, CONICET-INTA - AR

  

  Dr Anne Sophie Sergent

   IFAB – Forestry and Agricultural Research Institute Bariloche (IFAB), UEDD INTA-CONICET, forest ecology unit 
  CONICET - National Scientific and Technical Research Council - Argentina

  Address: Modesta Victoria 4450 Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche, EEA, 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

   Email: Sergent.annesophie@inta.gob.ar

  Anne Sophie Sergent obtained her PhD in forest biology at Val de Loire University – France - in 2011 before joining the National Scientific and Technical Research Council CONICET - Argentina. Her research activities are conducted within the ecology, ecophysiology, and wood laboratory (LEEMA) of IFAB, UEDD INTA-CONICET in Bariloche. Her research interests are forest tree ecophysiology and dendro-ecology, focusing on the relationships between wood structure, growth rate, and physiological mechanisms involved in drought resistance. Her current project aims to assess the geographical and genetic variations of wood traits involved in the adaptability of Austrocedrus chilensis to drought.

  The enigma of the Cordilleran cypress dieback: insights from the study of xylogenesis

  The Cordillera cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) is a dioecious conifer native to the Andes-Patagonia region of South America. In the current context of global warming, including reduced annual rainfall and increased pathogens attacks, this species is experiencing severe die-offs that are still poorly understood. The process of xylogenesis, which is crucial for the functioning of trees and their response to the environment, has never been described for the Cordillera cypress. The objective of this study is to address this knowledge gap by initially examining the impact of dioecia on the processes of wood formation. Our study was conducted in a closed forest in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, during the 2018-2019 southern growing season (November to May). It involved weekly micro-coring of 11 dominant trees (5 males and 6 females) to describe xylogenesis and compare sexes. The findings indicate that the male Cordilleran cypress produces two to three times the quantity of wood cells as the female, and exhibits a growth rate that is twice as high over a growing period that is one-third longer. This discrepancy may be attributed to the prioritization of resources towards reproductive processes over wood production in female individuals. Further research is required to ascertain the impact of climatic and environmental factors on the xylogenesis of this species.

  Co-authors: Boussaroque L., Adikurnia I, Diez J., Martinez-Meier A. and Rathgeber C.

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