IEECP, together with its project OptFor-EU partners, has just published a new scientific article: Institutional pathways for climate-resilient forestry: Empirical evidence from Europe. The article was published on Trees, Forests and People and the full abstract is available below, together with the direct link.
Full abstract
Forests play a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation by acting as carbon sinks and providing essential ecosystem services. However, their resilience is increasingly threatened by climate-induced disturbances, evolving socio-economic demands, and institutional rigidity. This paper investigates how institutional frameworks shape the transition towards climate-resilient forestry in Europe, using the concept of institutional preparedness within sustainability transitions. The analysis is grounded in a European-wide expert survey involving 168 respondents representing forestry authorities, researchers, practitioners, and civil society. Results point to pervasive institutional barriers, including outdated forestry legislation, fragmented bureaucratic systems, and insufficient long-term financing. At the same time, key enablers such as regional-sensitive governance stable funding instruments, and science-policy interfaces are recognised as critical for fostering resilience. Stakeholder engagement is widely acknowledged as a transformative factor; yet, it remains unevenly implemented across contexts. Public authorities and researchers are perceived as highly influential, while forest owners, small and medium-sized enterprise, and civil society actors often face limited inclusion due to institutional inertia and a lack of continuity in participatory processes. These findings emphasise the need for cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen regional-sensitive governance capacities for climate-smart forest management under different regional circumstances. The paper contributes to the literature on sustainability transitions by providing empirically grounded insights into the institutional and stakeholder conditions shaping forest-based climate action.
