We are pleased to announce the release of the latest OptFor-EU report: “Database Including Forest Types, Forest Ecosystem Services, and Management Practices in each case study area”. The report explains the OptFor-EU process for data collection regarding European Forest Types (EFT), Forest Ecosystem Services (FES), Forest Management Practices (FMP), and Socio-Economic indicators (SE) in each of the eight case study areas (CSA). This report offers a comprehensive open-access database to support informed decision-making for forest managers and policymakers, enabling them to cope with the trade-off between conservation, climate resilience, and economic sustainability.
By combining quantitative data with on-the-ground experience, this report provides a more nuanced view of how forests capture carbon, host biodiversity, and regulate the climate, and how policies can be designed to reconcile conservation, economic sustainability, and climate resilience.
The centralised database set the basis for the creation of the OptFor-EU Decision Support System (DSS), which will be implemented and tested in the 8 case study locations. What is interesting about this report is its holistic approach, allowing for a better understanding of the complex interactions between several management alternatives, governance frameworks, and stakeholder perceptions through the application of structured surveys and semi-structured interviews.
Furthermore, the integration of diverse data categories (EFT, FMP, FES, and SE indicators) creates a multi-dimensional foundation that drives the project’s core outputs. Specifically, EFT and FMP data provide essential spatial and operational parameters for scenario modelling, enabling the simulation of forest dynamics under different climate and management conditions. Concurrently, FES and SE indicators capture the multifunctional benefits and economic aspects of forest management, thereby guiding stakeholder engagement processes and informing the development of realistic, policy-relevant scenarios.
This integrated approach not only ensures that the DSS is grounded in comprehensive, on-the-ground data but also aligns technical modelling, stakeholder needs, and policy objectives within the project.
