Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OptFor-EU (OPTimising FORest management decisions for a low-carbon, climate resilient future in EUrope)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
Significant reductions in anthropogenic CO2 emissions and increases in CO2 sinks are needed to meet the 1.5⁰C threshold for global warming set out in the Paris Agreement and reach the climate-neutrality goal of the European Green Deal by 2050. The CO2 sink provided by forests partially offsets the rise in anthropogenic CO2 emissions, providing a large-scale buffer to climate change.
Depending on their characteristics and local circumstances, such as management practices or ecosystem services, forests may range from net CO2 sinks to sources. The project OPTimising FORest management decisions for a low-carbon, climate resilient future in Europe (OptFor-EU) builds a Decision Support System (DSS) to provide forest managers and other relevant stakeholders with tailored options for optimising decarbonisation and other Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) across Europe. Based on exploitation of existing data sources, use of novel Essential Forest Decarbonisation Indicators and relationships between climate drivers, forest responses and ecosystem services, OptFor-EU’s main goal is achieved following five specific objectives, as follows: (1) Provide an improved characterisation of the forest-climate nexus and FES; (2) Utilise end-user focused process modelling; (3) Empower forest end-users to make informed decisions to enhance forest resilience and decarbonisation; (4) Provide a novel DSS service, co-developed with forest managers and other practice stakeholders; and (5) Achieve measurable gains towards the European Green Deal objectives. Based on a supply demand approach, the methodology combines an iterative process of data consolidation, modelling, and co-development of solutions alongside stakeholders. The DSS is designed and tested at 8 case study areas, to provide a ready-to-use service, near to operational (TRL7) and up scaled to European level, while a user adoption plan maximises the societal and business impact.
OptFor-EU is implemented through 7 interconnected Work Packages, by a consortium of 16 partners from 9 European countries holding outstanding interdisciplinary expertise, and a very good gender balance.
Depending on their characteristics and local circumstances, such as management practices or ecosystem services, forests may range from net CO2 sinks to sources. The project OPTimising FORest management decisions for a low-carbon, climate resilient future in Europe (OptFor-EU) builds a Decision Support System (DSS) to provide forest managers and other relevant stakeholders with tailored options for optimising decarbonisation and other Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) across Europe. Based on exploitation of existing data sources, use of novel Essential Forest Decarbonisation Indicators and relationships between climate drivers, forest responses and ecosystem services, OptFor-EU’s main goal is achieved following five specific objectives, as follows: (1) Provide an improved characterisation of the forest-climate nexus and FES; (2) Utilise end-user focused process modelling; (3) Empower forest end-users to make informed decisions to enhance forest resilience and decarbonisation; (4) Provide a novel DSS service, co-developed with forest managers and other practice stakeholders; and (5) Achieve measurable gains towards the European Green Deal objectives. Based on a supply demand approach, the methodology combines an iterative process of data consolidation, modelling, and co-development of solutions alongside stakeholders. The DSS is designed and tested at 8 case study areas, to provide a ready-to-use service, near to operational (TRL7) and up scaled to European level, while a user adoption plan maximises the societal and business impact.
OptFor-EU is implemented through 7 interconnected Work Packages, by a consortium of 16 partners from 9 European countries holding outstanding interdisciplinary expertise, and a very good gender balance.
● In situ observations, reanalyses, and satellite remote sensing products were collected.
● Forest managers, end-users and other stakeholders across each case study area (CSA) were identified and involved during workshops, surveys, bilateral meetings and interviews.
● Knowledge gaps that either hinder or promote the up-take of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) were identified in the CSAs.
● The exchange between the science and local stakeholders was initiated and awaiting future activities on knowledge transfer from science to practice.
● Coordinated experiment setups and input data for Europe-wide future projections were prepared, including setups to estimate model uncertainties.
● Information on stakeholders and their level of engagement were partially collected across all CSAs.
● Nearly 130 forest-related mitigation indicators and indicators for regional climate regulation were collated.
● Europe-wide harmonised forest type dataset was prepared.
● Definition of current FMPs in CSA as Business as Usual (BAU) scenario and proposed new forest management practices as potential adaptive forest management alternatives.
● Local forest data (for initialising forest model simulations) and forest end users’ needs and requirements were collected.
● Meteorological (observed and modelled) forcing data were collected.
● Concept for coupling of forest models, climate and land surface models developed.
● Models’ setting and simulation runs planned.
● Continuous interactions with stakeholders in each CSA to identify their needs regarding the forest DSS.
● Stakeholder database that includes a total of 126 stakeholders from all CSA was established and is enhanced and updated regularly.
● Standardised Expert survey as well as qualitative, semi-structured interviews collected feedback about forest decarbonisation options.
● An internally condensed list of forest-related mitigation and regional climate regulation indicators were prepared to be introduced to stakeholders.
● The conceptual design of the OptFor-EU DSS was developed, including the DSS components, required data, potential use cases and presentation of results.
● The visual interface and functionalities of the DSS were developed considering the DSS System Architecture and Technical Specifications using selected use cases and data from the CSA Romania.
● A prototype DSS application using test data from Romanian case study was created.
● Co-development on stakeholder requirements from a variety of forests, including managed, unmanaged, forest types, climate, production was carried out by following a Lean Startup approach.
● Preparation of practice abstracts for policy makers and end-users.
● Development of adoption and customization strategy to feed into DSS.
● Preparation of a policy mapping, for addressing the forest-related policy frameworks regarding relevant EU policies.
● Mapping of institutional and governance factors and enquiry with regional, national and international stakeholders in form of expert survey.
● Forest managers, end-users and other stakeholders across each case study area (CSA) were identified and involved during workshops, surveys, bilateral meetings and interviews.
● Knowledge gaps that either hinder or promote the up-take of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) were identified in the CSAs.
● The exchange between the science and local stakeholders was initiated and awaiting future activities on knowledge transfer from science to practice.
● Coordinated experiment setups and input data for Europe-wide future projections were prepared, including setups to estimate model uncertainties.
● Information on stakeholders and their level of engagement were partially collected across all CSAs.
● Nearly 130 forest-related mitigation indicators and indicators for regional climate regulation were collated.
● Europe-wide harmonised forest type dataset was prepared.
● Definition of current FMPs in CSA as Business as Usual (BAU) scenario and proposed new forest management practices as potential adaptive forest management alternatives.
● Local forest data (for initialising forest model simulations) and forest end users’ needs and requirements were collected.
● Meteorological (observed and modelled) forcing data were collected.
● Concept for coupling of forest models, climate and land surface models developed.
● Models’ setting and simulation runs planned.
● Continuous interactions with stakeholders in each CSA to identify their needs regarding the forest DSS.
● Stakeholder database that includes a total of 126 stakeholders from all CSA was established and is enhanced and updated regularly.
● Standardised Expert survey as well as qualitative, semi-structured interviews collected feedback about forest decarbonisation options.
● An internally condensed list of forest-related mitigation and regional climate regulation indicators were prepared to be introduced to stakeholders.
● The conceptual design of the OptFor-EU DSS was developed, including the DSS components, required data, potential use cases and presentation of results.
● The visual interface and functionalities of the DSS were developed considering the DSS System Architecture and Technical Specifications using selected use cases and data from the CSA Romania.
● A prototype DSS application using test data from Romanian case study was created.
● Co-development on stakeholder requirements from a variety of forests, including managed, unmanaged, forest types, climate, production was carried out by following a Lean Startup approach.
● Preparation of practice abstracts for policy makers and end-users.
● Development of adoption and customization strategy to feed into DSS.
● Preparation of a policy mapping, for addressing the forest-related policy frameworks regarding relevant EU policies.
● Mapping of institutional and governance factors and enquiry with regional, national and international stakeholders in form of expert survey.
In the period January 2023-June 2024 (M1-M18), the project OptFor-EU delivered one result which is beyond the state of the art, namely a new classification of the European Forest Types (EFTs), included in Deliverable 1.1 (month 6).
Forest types play a crucial role in monitoring and understanding the impact of climate change on diverse ecosystems in Europe and beyond. A comprehensive classification system, such as the European Forest Types scheme, is essential for assessing baseline conditions, tracking changes, and guiding conservation decisions. OptFor-EU provided a new classification scheme (D1.1) that breaks down forested areas in Europe into a handful of ecologically homogeneous units, thus facilitating the analysis of data related to forest conditions and management practices across a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. The current lack of an EFTs map for Europe prompted its processing, using a shared rule-based expert system algorithm, which identified 14 EFT categories. This initiative filled a critical gap in spatial monitoring, providing the first consistent EFT maps across Europe. These maps serve as a valuable tool for forest monitoring, decision-making, and addressing adaptation and mitigation needs within the context of international frameworks.
The result is included in a paper which will be submitted for publication in an open-access international journal.
Forest types play a crucial role in monitoring and understanding the impact of climate change on diverse ecosystems in Europe and beyond. A comprehensive classification system, such as the European Forest Types scheme, is essential for assessing baseline conditions, tracking changes, and guiding conservation decisions. OptFor-EU provided a new classification scheme (D1.1) that breaks down forested areas in Europe into a handful of ecologically homogeneous units, thus facilitating the analysis of data related to forest conditions and management practices across a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. The current lack of an EFTs map for Europe prompted its processing, using a shared rule-based expert system algorithm, which identified 14 EFT categories. This initiative filled a critical gap in spatial monitoring, providing the first consistent EFT maps across Europe. These maps serve as a valuable tool for forest monitoring, decision-making, and addressing adaptation and mitigation needs within the context of international frameworks.
The result is included in a paper which will be submitted for publication in an open-access international journal.