Written by: Issam Touhami, Hamdi Aouinti, Makrem Askri, Intissar Zarrouk, Mohamed Hasni and Abdelhamid Khaldi, National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry-INRGREF. Tunisia
Reviewed by: Olga Kildisheva
The INRGREF Seed Germplasm Bank plays a vital role in ecological restoration in Tunisia and throughout the Mediterranean region by preserving native plant species and ensuring their accessibility for restoration initiatives at the national and regional levels. There are currently 530 seed accessions preserved in the seed bank, which represent 102 taxa, and make up a significant reservoir of genetic diversity. This collection, which is currently being expanded, supports research, ecological restoration, and reforestation initiatives, strengthening the bank’s strategic contribution to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
“The seeds preserved at INRGREF are more than a passive genetic repository;
they are actively contributes in restoration programs. “
The INRGREF seeds bank:
Ensures short-term storage of seeds under controlled conditions to maintain their viability.
Serves as a genetic reservoir supporting research, ecological restoration, and reforestation programs.
Facilitates ecosystem recovery through the reintroduction of locally adapted native species.
Through this integrated approach, the seeds bank supports the re-establishment of native plant communities that are ecologically coherent and resilient to environmental stressors such as prolonged droughts, pest outbreaks, and increasing wildfire intensity, all exacerbated by ongoing climate change. Moreover, seed conservation efforts reinforce key ecosystem services, including:
Soil stabilization and erosion control, essential in arid and semi-arid landscapes;
Carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation;
Hydrological regulation, improving water infiltration and retention in degraded watersheds.
“By serving as a reservoir of genetic diversity and a catalyst for ecological restoration, the INRGREF Seed Germplasm Bank emerges as a strategic asset for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience across Mediterranean ecosystems.”
Photo 1: ECOPLANTMED project 2014-2016
The INRGREF Seed Bank plays a fundamental role in forest restoration by conserving the genetic diversity of native species that show strong adaptation to local conditions. The native seeds provide high-quality material for reforestation and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, ensuring ecological resilience to climate change, preserving biodiversity, and backing large-scale restoration programs. The seed bank further supports sustainable forest management and delivers socio-ecological benefits to local communities in the region.
Native seeds restoration project
Several projects and research studies have focused on forest ecosystem rehabilitation. These projects have often used participatory approaches that directly involve local citizens (Touhami et al. 2019). To this extent, the ECOPLANTMED project (ECOlogical use of native PLANTs for environmental restoration and sustainable development in the MEDiterranean region; http://www.ecoplantmed.eu) implemented an ecological restoration strategy based on the collection, conservation, and propagation of native Mediterranean species, through close collaboration between scientists, local forestry authorities, and community stakeholders. The project generated valuable outcomes that extend beyond ecological gains and emphasize the social dimension of restoration:
Built trust and collaboration: a formal agreement between local communities, forest services, and scientists marked a joint commitment to overcoming disagreements and working collectively on habitat restoration.
Engaged women: women played a positive and active role at all stages of the project, demonstrating the importance of gender inclusion in ecological initiatives.
Facilitated knowledge transfer: local participants acquired practical restoration skills such as planting, sowing, and fencing, through direct interaction with researchers.
Increased environmental awareness: participation fostered a renewed appreciation for nature and enhanced understanding of environmental issues, a crucial step in strengthening natural capital to support basic human needs in regions like Tunisia.
Site assessment showed that the planted area remained intact with survival rates of 80% one year after planting and 67% two years after planting (Touhami et al., 2019). These results were considered acceptable under prolonged drought conditions.
Photo 2. Restoration sites in northern Tunisia using native seeds. Photos taken by Issam Touhami. 2018
Cork oak rehabilitation forest project
In Tunisia, cork oak forests (Quercus suber L.) represent a major ecological, economic, and cultural heritage within Mediterranean ecosystems. However, climate change is exerting complex pressures on these forests, including increased dieback, heightened vulnerability to wildfires, and disruptions in natural regeneration dynamics. Several studies (Nsibi et al., 2005; Touhami et al., 2020) conducted in Tunisia and across the Mediterranean region have also highlighted the advanced senescence of many cork oak stands and their limited regeneration capacity. Together, these factors contribute to the gradual decline and mortality of this emblematic species. In response, a large-scale cork oak rehabilitation project was launched through a partnership between KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) and INRGREF, targeting the restoration of 100 hectares of degraded forests. The project places strong emphasis on the active participation of local communities and the sustainable management of forest resources. The objectives include: (1) supporting the natural regeneration of cork oak stands; (2) identifying and addressing the underlying drivers of forest degradation; and (3) promoting community engagement to ensure long-term sustainability of restoration actions.
After two years of implementation, and with strong community involvement, the project achieved encouraging results, with cork oak survival rates reaching up to 60%, markedly higher than those observed in previous plantation efforts. Beyond ecological restoration, the project introduced innovative practices and social mechanisms aimed at strengthening forest governance and local livelihoods, including:
Decentralizing decision-making in forest management to empower local stakeholders;
Restructuring joint regional development committees and institutionalizing regular coordination between agricultural and forestry authorities and community representatives;
Promoting local organization through the support of NGOs and community associations;
Developing agro-silvo-pastoral value chains to improve household income and enhance the socio-economic resilience of rural communities.
Through this integrated approach, the cork oak rehabilitation project demonstrates how ecological restoration, when rooted in local participation and socio-economic inclusion, can foster both environmental recovery and community development. Learn more at Un projet de coopération pilote - Réhabilitation et régénération des forêts de chêne-liège en Tunisie (A pilot cooperation project - Rehabilitation and regeneration of cork oak forests in Tunisia)
Photo 3. Cork oak forests rehabilitation project. Photos by S. Boutheina
Insights on Mediterranean Seed Banks
Based on the last work of De Vitis et al. (2025), a recent assessment conducted across 28 European and extra-European seed banks within the Mediterranean biogeographic region revealed several critical insights:
Only half of the target species from Mediterranean coastal habitats are currently stored in at least one seed bank;
Many of these species are represented by only a single accession;
Less than 50% of the target species have an available propagation protocols;
Only 10% of stored accessions have been used for on-the-ground conservation or restoration actions;
Nevertheless, seed collection efforts have increased exponentially over the past five decades.
“These findings emphasize the need to strengthen Mediterranean seed bank networks, prioritize underrepresented species and habitats, and promote the exchange of seeds and technical knowledge. Within this broader regional perspective, the INRGREF Seed Germplasm Bank holds a strategic position—not only for Tunisia but as a key actor contributing to Mediterranean efforts in plant conservation, ecological restoration, and climate resilience.”
References
De Vitis, M., Di Cecco, V., Abdelaal, M. et al. Seed banking of Mediterranean coastal plants: an analysis to identify current seed availability and gaps to guide future seed collection and habitat restoration activities. J Coast Conserv 29, 50 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-025-01140-y
Nsibi, R., Souayah, N., Khouja, M. L., Khaldi, A., Skhiri, A., Rejeb, M. N., & Bouzid, S. (2005). Caractérisation de l’état de sénescence de la subéraie tunisienne. IOBC/wprs Bull, 28(6), 33-39.
Touhami, I., KHORCHANI, A., Nasr, Z., Elaieb, M. T., Rzigui, T., & Khaldi, A. (2019). Restauration écologique des forêts par l'utilisation d'espèces autochtones au nord-ouest de la Tunisie: une nouvelle expérience d'approche participative. Ecologia Mediterranea, 45(1).
Touhami, I., Chirino, E., Aouinti, H. et al. Decline and dieback of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests in the Mediterranean basin: a case study of Kroumirie, Northwest Tunisia. J. For. Res. 31, 1461–1477 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-00974-1.