The network of Seedbanks for the flora of the Mediterranean region, GENMEDOC, deals with the exchange of technical information and the adoption of common working protocols for the conservation of the genetic resources of the Mediterranean flora, and particularly, the flora of the habitats included in the Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive). The project GENMEDOC considerably contributes to the construction and development of the European ecological network NATURA 2000 which is devoted to the conservation of the most important elements for biodiversity.

During the first two years of the network operation, seedlots of 338 taxa from 45 Mediterranean habitats have been collected and are preserved in the seedbanks of the partners.

In addition, seedlots of 75 taxa have been duplicated and are preserved in the seedbanks of the other partners, with the purpose of securing a more effective conservation.

An optimal germination protocol has been developed for 66 species among the collected ones, in order to secure seedling production for eventual actions of population reinforcement or reintroduction in the natural environment. The results of the germination experiments have been compiled in an edition where, furthermore, a general methodology for the elaboration of germination protocols is proposed and various methodologies from the seedbanks of the network are presented.

The combination of the techniques and of the experience of the partners, as well as the collaboration with other European experts, has permitted the elaboration of a handbook for the collection, treatment and conservation of genetic material. This manual comprises the basic steps from the selection and localisation of the species to be conserved up to the final stage of the storage of the genetic material in the seedbank.

Preliminary evaluations achieved, concerning the study of the structural basis of habitats. In the framework of this study, criteria for the evaluation and the identification of plant species important for the structure, the functionality and the singularity of a plant community are investigated. These criteria will allow setting priorities in the collection and conservation of the reproductive material in the seedbanks that participate in the management of natural habitats.

A multilingual website, in french, spanish (castellano), italian and english, about biodiversity in general and, more particularly, ex situ conservation, offers the possibility of downloading the results of the project in pdf format and of accessing a database, in french, that comprises information about the habitats, populations and taxa studied (collection, treatment, conservation and germination).

The most important result of the project is the strengthening of the collaboration among the scientific centres and administration services that deal with the management of natural environment in the regions concerned. Consequently, the results and innovations of the project attain a practical aspect and can be easily transferred to the stakeholders involved in the management of biodiversity.