Strengthening the foundations for future forests
A new Centre for Seeds, Nurseries and Forest Protection in Ljubljana, Slovenia, will strengthen research on forest reproductive material, forest nursery production and forest protection.
The Slovenian Forestry Institute opened their new Centre for Seeds, Nurseries and Forest Protection in Ljubljana on 9 March.
The Centre will strengthen research on forest reproductive material, forest nursery production and forest protection. It comprises over 2,510 m² of new research, laboratory and support facilities, including seed processing and storage, genetic conservation through a forest seed bank, and capacity for improved monitoring and diagnostics of forest pests and diseases.
These capacities are increasingly important as forests face growing pressures from climate change and disturbances. Forest restoration using genetically appropriate forest reproductive material is essential, while there is a growing need to develop cultivation systems that ensure the highest possible establishment and survival rates of planted seedlings. The new Centre supports close-to-nature forest management and promotes species and genetic diversity of forests.
“Sustaining future forests requires action (active forest management measures) now, while forest reproductive material should be considered as a strategic resource of, and for, the future”, said Prof. Dr. Hojka Kraigher, Head of Department for Forest Physiology and Genetics at the Slovenian Forestry Institute and EUFORGEN National Coordinator for Slovenia. “This new Centre provides us with a much-needed modern infrastructure that supports innovation, strengthens our work, and will establish part of the Slovenian Forest Gene Bank which is vital for the long-term conservation of forest genetic resources and assessing the quality of forest reproductive material.”
The building, funded within the framework of Slovenia’s Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Climate Change Fund, was constructed using sustainable, natural materials with a low carbon footprint and high recyclability and incorporates a green roof system.
The Slovenian Forestry Institute is an Associate Member of the European Forest Institute (EFI). EFI Director, Robert Mavsar, attended the opening ceremony and gave his congratulations to the Institute on this important milestone. He also looked forward to welcoming the forest science community back to Ljubljana for the EFI Annual Conference in 2027 which will be hosted by the Slovenian Forestry Institute.
Read more about the new Centre: https://www.gozdis.si/en/centre-for-seeds-nurseries-and-forest-protection/
