Assessing old-growth forest resilience: final results from the OCCIGEN project in Southern France
The OCCIGEN project assessed 42 old-growth forests in Southern France, analysing genetic diversity, regeneration and biodiversity to evaluate their resilience. Results support sustainable management and will soon be available through an open science repository.
The preservation of old-growth forests is a major challenge for Europe, as they represent a rare and threatened natural heritage. According to Forest Europe (2015), they account for less than 4% of European forests. In this context, the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 aims to increase the areas under strict protection.
It is within this framework that the multidisciplinary project OCCIGEN (2021–2025) was launched. The project’s final conference, held in June 2025, brought together around forty forest managers and scientists.
By the end of the project, 42 old-growth forests – including beech, fir and pine stands – had been characterised in terms of maturity, health status and adaptive capacity, using indicators of genetic diversity, reproduction, regeneration and biodiversity.
All data will soon be made available in an open science repository. In addition, a summary sheet was prepared for each stand, designed for forest managers, highlighting the specific characteristics of their forests.
For more information, visit the OCCIGEN project site or contact Caroline Scotti-Saintagne at caroline.scotti-saintagne@inrae.fr
