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GIS Group Maritime Pine of the Future

Organisms: CNPF, CPFA, FCBA, INRAE, ONF

Presidency and coordination: Cestas, 33612, France

Network of experimental sites in metropolitan France and Europe

https://www.gisgpmf.fr/

Map of the sites installed in the Massif Landais (Metropolitan France)

The GIS Group Maritime Pine of the Future (GIS GPMF) is a scientific interest group created in 1995 that brings together various stakeholders in research, development and management for public and private forests: INRAE, FCBA, ONF, CPFA, CNPF.  The Group’s aim is to help to adapt the production system in maritime pine ecosystems to new economic and environmental contexts. By producing and promoting knowledge on maritime pine genetic resources, ecosystem functioning and the effect of silvicultural practices, GPMF proposes improved varieties and disseminates recommendations on silvicultural trajectories for professionals in the sector.  To achieve this objective, GPMF installs and monitors networks of experimental sites with three main focus topics.

In genetics, the GPMF carries out multi-site progeny tests on single-tree plots (polycross, single or double pair mating) and tests to compare specific materials in large plots (provenances from the natural area of maritime pine, inter-provenance hybrid progeny, improved and unimproved materials, full sib families).

In silviculture, the GPMF has three main sub-networks to test hypotheses in real conditions in order to quantify and compare the effects of different practices: pre-installation tillage, fertility description and management, and density control in relation to the plant material used. A fourth sub-network consists of demonstration experimental sites. For biotic and abiotic risks, the GPMF includes pathogens and pests, and hazards associated with climate change (drought, wind storms).

In just over 25 years, the GPMF has installed more than 130 experimental sites, mainly in the Landes de Gascogne Massif, but also near the coldest margins of the maritime pine’s range (Centre-Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire, Brittany) and in drier climatic zones (Mediterranean zone, Spain, Portugal).

The GPMF, by nature, supports multidisciplinary research on three themes: genetics, forestry and risks. Their genetic experiments, for instance, make it possible to analyse changes in selected or unselected diversity over several generations, and provide a material of choice for genomic studies on maritime pine. Their studies of silviculture systems provided the first ecological descriptors to determine site potential, advised owners on phosphate fertilisation and proposed a range of scenarios to renew the Landes forest after the 2009 storm. To help deal with risks, the network is experimenting with silvicultural methods to control the propagation of Fomes over the long term.

Each site in the networks is monitored and different dendrometric measurements are taken according to the subject of study (growth, tree shape, branch height, wood quality, health status). Some experimental sites are subject to ecological surveys or water monitoring.

All the data collected from the network's sites are formatted and validated by each member. The metadata are shared among all the Group’s members.

The network is coordinated by the GPMF Executive Committee and managed by its members.

The Executive Committee establishes the action plan and distributes the management of the installations among the members; it also defines common experimental protocols. Each member is responsible for the sites it installs, their monitoring, measurements, sampling and data description. Each member is the sole owner of the data collected. Members share their information via a common workspace with access rights. An information system dedicated to GPMF metadata with access rights for members will soon be implemented. Each member is free to populate its own information system with data collected in the network, with acknowledgment to the GPMF, its partners and financial supporters.

Each year, the combined effort equates to 40 full-time positions distributed among the 5 member organisations of the GPMF.

The GPMF provides an infrastructure for studies in various fields within the framework of formal collaboration agreements.

The GPMF wishes to develop collaborative synergies within the projects concerned, which are considered essential for the long-term monitoring and enhancement of this experimental network. The GPMF hopes to interact as much as possible with theiruser(s) to discuss all the technical, logistic and scientific aspects during project set-up.

Depending on the research or development project, the access request may concern the data collected by the GPMF and/or access to the experimental sites to collect new data or samples. In all cases, access is on request only and all beneificiaries must respect the rules of the GPMF charter.

Case-by-case.

For some sites: meteorological station, soil water content, microdendrometers.