Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FORWARDS (The ForestWard Observatory to Secure Resilience of European Forests)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-11-01 bis 2025-10-31
FORWARDS is developing, testing, and implementing the ForestWard Observatory – a European observatory for climate change impacts on forests – that will supply timely and detailed information on European forests’ vulnerability to climate change impacts, and build on a network of climate-smart forestry (CSF) and restoration pilots to provide science-based reference knowledge to guide CSF & Restoration management activities, with a system for incorporating stakeholder engagement and public participation in the final decision-making. The ForestWard Observatory is a platform linking forest data, management options, and stakeholder engagement to increase our knowledge on the impacts of climate change on European forests and facilitate timely and widespread CSF & Restoration management responses, contributing to increasing the resilience of European forests in the long term.
To address the objective of facilitating the timely and detailed detection of threats to European forests while enabling a prompt local response in practical forest management, the ForestWard observatory will support decision making at strategic and operational scales in the EU:
• European and national scale to provide a broad perspective of disturbances, future risks, and critical vulnerabilities and threats to European forests as strategic support
• Regional and local scale delivering more finely tuned information useful for local CSF & Restoration management practice to provide operational support.
To achieve this, FORWARDS is capitalising on a series of available networks and data streams to apply novel approaches beyond the current state-of-the-art. We are integrating remote sensing and terrestrial monitoring technologies that can effectively inform on the current vulnerabilities threatening European forests and provide timely monitoring of the characteristics of forest disturbances to bridge the divide in the EU between forest and satellite information. In addition, we are working on an EU-wide perspective on the current know-how on the effectiveness of CSF & restoration management actions, including forward-looking approaches anticipating climate change scenarios in Europe. Finally, we are applying a holistic co-designing approach to CSF & restoration management, incorporating the needs and opinions of stakeholders and the public in the decision-making process, and assisting practical policymaking.
To address the objective of facilitating the timely and detailed detection of threats to European forests while enabling a prompt local response in practical forest management, the ForestWard observatory will support decision making at strategic and operational scales in the EU:
• European and national scale to provide a broad perspective of disturbances, future risks, and critical vulnerabilities and threats to European forests as strategic support
• Regional and local scale delivering more finely tuned information useful for local CSF & Restoration management practice to provide operational support.
To achieve this, FORWARDS is capitalising on a series of available networks and data streams to apply novel approaches beyond the current state-of-the-art. We are integrating remote sensing and terrestrial monitoring technologies that can effectively inform on the current vulnerabilities threatening European forests and provide timely monitoring of the characteristics of forest disturbances to bridge the divide in the EU between forest and satellite information. In addition, we are working on an EU-wide perspective on the current know-how on the effectiveness of CSF & restoration management actions, including forward-looking approaches anticipating climate change scenarios in Europe. Finally, we are applying a holistic co-designing approach to CSF & restoration management, incorporating the needs and opinions of stakeholders and the public in the decision-making process, and assisting practical policymaking.
FORWARDS work on developing innovative approaches that integrate remote sensing technologies with ground-based forest monitoring systems has developed tree water deficit mapping systems for Europe, advancement of spectral indicators for drought stress detection, and the establishment of comprehensive data infrastructure supporting forest monitoring across multiple scales. These efforts have resulted in novel machine learning models for predicting tree water stress, improved methods for linking ground observations with satellite data, and enhanced capabilities for early detection of forest health issues. FORWARDS also addresses the critical need for comprehensive disturbance monitoring across European forests through the development of advanced detection algorithms, validation datasets, and risk assessment methodologies. Progress has been achieved with the creation of pan-European disturbance maps using multiple satellite platforms, development of near-real-time alerting systems, and establishment of robust validation frameworks. The work has resulted in operational monitoring systems capable of detecting various disturbance types including selective cutting, windstorm damage, bark beetle outbreaks, and drought effects across different forest ecosystems. The work on developing spatial indicators of forest structure, function, and vitality to support Climate-Smart Forestry management and restoration activities at local scales has produced innovative tools for assessing carbon dynamics, structural conditions, and stress factors through advanced remote sensing and machine learning approaches. Key outputs include high-resolution canopy height models, early warning systems for biotic disturbances, and comprehensive monitoring frameworks that integrate multiple data sources to support evidence-based forest management decisions. Moreover, work on a spatial database on existing research and experimental management trials on climate-smart forestry and restoration forest management in Europe has been completed, and the project has developed two web-based apps for users to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration and CSF management options. The efforts towards creating an enabling environment for interaction and knowledge co-creation to support positive transformation towards CSF, climate adaptation and restoration include stakeholder workshops and citizen engagement activities.
The tree water deficit maps developed in FORWARDS are a major advancement in forest monitoring capabilities in Europe. These, together with the creation of pan-European disturbance maps, make it possible to detect various types of forest disturbances. Furthermore, the high-resolution canopy-height models, early warning systems for biotic disturbances and comprehensive monitoring frameworks enable forest managers to assess current forest conditions, predict future risks, monitor the effectiveness of management interventions, and adapt strategies, thus facilitating evidence-based decision-making in practical forest management.