Climate-smart forestry for climate resilience

Key Learnings

• Adaptive forest management strengthens resilience to climate hazards: Adjusting forestry practices to local climate risks, such as thinning trees to reduce fire risk during heatwaves, improves forest health and makes them more robust against the impacts of climate change.
• Well-designed adaptation brings multiple benefits: Beyond boosting resilience, the interventions have improved biodiversity, soil stability, and habitat quality, while reducing wildfire risk. They’ve also helped revitalise rural economies through sustainable activities like grazing and mushroom harvesting, showing how adaptation can support both nature and communities.
• Private investment can drive climate-resilient forestry: Businesses can play a key role in supporting adaptive forest management by investing in projects that both address climate risks and deliver environmental and social benefits.

Summary

Adaptive forest management can transform climate threats into opportunities by enhancing forest resilience, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods. Flexible, knowledge-based forestry practices tailored to local risks like drought and wildfires strengthen climate resilience. Through a six-step adaptive planning guide, 15 pilot sites implemented measures such as thinning, species diversification, and firebreaks. These actions improve ecosystem health, reduce fire risk, and revitalise local economies. Supported by digital tools and innovative financing models like “Zero Solutions,” the actions bridge science and practice, influencing regional policy and national standards. With modest funding, the measures create a replicable model for climate-smart forestry that aligns with EU climate goals and offers a roadmap for other Mediterranean regions.

Contact

infosoriaforestadapt [dot] es (info[at]soriaforestadapt[dot]es)