Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the most pressing challenges of our time. These crises are deeply interconnected, creating complex risks that threaten ecosystems, human wellbeing, and the economy. Yet, current decision-making and land-use planning often fail to account for these interdependencies, limiting the effectiveness of adaptation strategies.
To address this gap, the European Union has launched Trees4Adapt – Addressing complex risks from climate change and biodiversity loss across systems and scales: Leveraging the potential of tree-based solutions for adaptation in Europe, a Horizon Europe project under the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change.
Starting in October 2025 and running for four years, Trees4Adapt brings together 12 partners from across Europe, coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), with a budget of €4 million. The project aims to improve understanding of climate–biodiversity risks and support decision-makers in designing and implementing tree-based solutions that build resilience, restore biodiversity, and avoid maladaptation.
“Mitigation will not help us fast enough – the time is for adaptation,” said Prisca Haemers, Policy Officer for the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, during the project’s kick-off meeting. “Projects like Trees4Adapt are essential to accelerate Europe’s resilience and must work together through the Mission networks to maximise impact.”
Trees4Adapt combines cutting-edge research with practical solutions. It uses long-standing European research platforms to study how tree species and mixtures deliver multiple benefits, including buffering microclimates and strengthening ecosystems. The project will also assess the economic viability of tree-based solutions through bioeconomic and spatial modelling, creating scenarios that show how different decisions could shape future landscapes.
To ground this work in reality, Trees4Adapt draws on three case studies. In Finland’s boreal forests, researchers are building on a unique 26-year-old tree diversity experiment to see how adding species diversity can improve resilience in monoculture landscapes. In Germany, the focus is on agroforestry networks and how integrating trees into farming systems can boost biodiversity and support farmers. In Portugal, the case study examines Mediterranean landscapes recovering from wildfires, investigating whether greater tree diversity can slow fire spread and accelerate recovery. From the start, Trees4Adapt works hand-in-hand with local stakeholders and EU-level actors to co-create solutions that are practical and ready for real-world application.
The project kicked off with a two-day meeting in Helsinki in November, where partners came together to set priorities and explore strategies for impact. The sessions were lively and forward-looking, featuring opportunities to connect with related projects and discuss case studies, modelling approaches, and stakeholder engagement plans. Partners also embraced Finnish traditions with a ferry ride to the historic Suomenlinna fortress and a sauna evening, moments that strengthened connections and set the tone for a partnership built on trust and shared goals.
ERINN Innovation leads the dissemination and communication activities within Work Package 5 of Trees4Adapt. The team ensures the project’s visibility and impact by developing strategic messaging, managing dissemination channels, and helping project outputs reach relevant audiences across Europe.
“Trees4Adapt is a very promising project. It brings together highly skilled and motivated people with a shared goal: adapting to climate change while protecting forests and biodiversity, essential to our world. The project begins with lots of optimism and great ideas, giving me hope that we can achieve meaningful change!” said ERINN Innovation Project Officer Mathilde Vidal, Project Communications for Trees4Adapt.
Over the next four years, Trees4Adapt will turn research into action, providing guidance and tools to help communities and policymakers make informed choices. These results will feed directly into EU policies and investment plans, ensuring that Europe is better prepared for climate change while safeguarding biodiversity.
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