Climate change is a key driver of increasing soil salinity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Elevated temperatures and altered precipitation patterns enhance evaporation rates, leading to the accumulation of salts in soils. Salt stress significantly affects the physiology, growth and productivity of poplar trees. Understanding the complex physiological and molecular mechanisms, largely governed by genetic factors, is essential for managing saline environments through poplar cultivation. Salt tolerance in poplars involves processes regulated by numerous genes and their interactions, controlling ion homeostasis, metabolic adjustments, and stress responses. Investigating different poplar species reveals molecular variations that shape their salt tolerance capacities. These findings provide a foundation for developing selection strategies, including genetic improvements and breeding programs aimed at enhancing salt resilience in poplars.