Τhe OptFor-EU project forms one of the enablers towards optimized forest management in Europe within the guidelines of the European Green Deal and New EU Forest Strategy 2030. OptFor-EU, being a project under the Horizon Europe programme, is developing innovative solutions that contribute to a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. In this framework, the project published a new report that shows the important provisions made regarding several key targets of these EU environmental strategies.
One of the most important aims of the OptForEU project is contributing to climate neutrality. Giving practical help to the ambitious objectives of the EU, the project partners work on scientifically improving the science-based characterisation of Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) and developing a decision support system (DSS) that will enable site-specific solutions for GHG reduction, allowing the forests across Europe to fulfill all their potentials in terms of climate change mitigation.
In addition to efforts in climate neutrality, OptFor-EU is committed to advancing the clean energy transition and fostering a circular economy by enabling forest managers and practitioners to identify optimal Forest Management Practices (FMPs) and provide sustainable FES through the co-developed DSS and with the help of a multi-actor approach engaging diverse stakeholders in this decision-making process. The project promotes improved, sustainable use of forest resources leading to more renewable energy and better efficiency in the use of resources. Another critical aspect of the job is preserving biodiversity through a European-level map of all forest types that provides an overview of the vegetation diversity at European level considering the different ecological features and tree species compositions using a scalable modelling framework. Improved forest management practices and detailed mapping, ameliorate the protection and sustainability of Europe’s diverse ecosystems.
Thus, the report shows the practical benefits derived from the project complex approach, that, with the significant reduction in net emissions of greenhouse gases related to FES, the support to the biodiversity conservation efforts, the boost to sustainable use of forest resources, and the smooth integration of different economies and societal values at European scale, will thus facilitate the just transition principle of the EGD and its constituencies under the New EU Forest strategy 2030. A supplementary infographic to the detailed report has been prepared, to provide a compact summary of the contributions the OptForEU project is making toward the European Green Deal and EU Forest Strategy 2030.
