The theme for International Day of Forests 2026 is Forests and Economies and the United Nations is highlighting the need to better recognise forests as “engines of inclusive growth and well-being and to scale up policies, partnerships and investments that place forests at the heart of resilient and sustainable economies”. In recognition of this, ERINN Innovation is spotlighting our three forest-based EU projects: SafeNet, OptiForValue and Trees4Adapt.
SafeNet: Safeguarding Biodiversity and Carbon-rich Forest Networks in Europe
Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, SafeNet works to counter biodiversity loss and bolster ecosystem resilience across European forests. In 2025, SafeNet produced its first key scientific outputs, including Europe wide maps of forest carbon distribution and future forest expansion under different land use scenarios. The project also completed early dissemination and communication materials and carried out its first EU level stakeholder engagement meeting, which brought together organisations working on forests, climate and conservation to help guide the project’s next steps.
In 2026, SafeNet will deliver several important scientific results, including new biodiversity modelling outputs and the first set of practice abstracts highlighting options to support biodiversity in our case study regions. This year will also see the continuation of the project’s stakeholder engagement work, building on the EU level workshop held in December 2025 and expanding the dialogue with local and sectoral actors. The consortium will also meet in April in Córdoba, Spain, where partners will visit one of the project’s case study sites, engage with local stakeholders, and plan the next phase of research on forest biodiversity, carbon dynamics and resilience.
Mathilde Vidal, ERINN Innovation Senior Project Officer, is leading Work Package 8: “SafeNet is addressing an urgent need to develop practical, forward looking strategies for conserving Europe’s forests in a changing climate. I am glad to contribute to this work and to help ensure that the knowledge we produce reaches the people who can turn it into real world impact.”
OptiForValue: Optimising Forest Operations for Sustainable Forest Management and High-Value Applications
The OptiForValue project, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), is working to advance sustainable forestry by developing innovative approaches that strengthen the resilience of forest-based value chains. Since its launch in 2024, the project has implemented a harmonised monitoring system across Austria, Spain, Sweden, and Finland, combining drone, satellite, and field data to support the development of early warning tools for drought, insect damage, snow impacts, and long-term stress. In parallel, the team has advanced climate resilient management strategies and developed operational practices that improve harvesting efficiency, wood quality assessment, engineered wood prototypes and supply planning.
In 2026, OptiForValue will continue its stakeholder engagement through a number of events. This year will also see continued delivery of important scientific results, progress across case studies, participation in conferences (including FORMEC 2026), and growing collaboration with relevant forestry projects. The consortium will also meet in September in Spain, where partners will visit the Case Study 2 site.
Olga Ormond, Senior Project Manager at ERINN Innovation, leads Comms in WP6: “I really enjoy being part of the OptiForValue consortium because it brings together strong partners who are committed to improving how we understand and manage our forests and timber resources. This work has also given me a deeper appreciation of the years of growth and effort behind the forest products in our everyday lives. Being involved in this project aligns perfectly with ERINN’s mission and my own passion for turning robust science into insights that shape better policy, industry practice, and sustainability outcomes.”
Trees4Adapt: Tree-based Solutions 4 Climate Change Adaptation & Biodiversity Conservation
The Trees4Adapt project launched in October 2025 with the consortium meeting in Helsinki for an in person kick off meeting. Here, partners set priorities and explored how tree-based solutions can help Europe adapt to the combined risks of climate change and biodiversity loss. The team also visited the Satakunta tree species diversity experiment in western Finland, one of the world’s longest running forest diversity trials.
The Trees4Adapt website will go live in March, and 2026 marks the start of fieldwork across the TreeDivNet and FunDivEUROPE study sites and the three case study regions in Finland, Germany and Portugal. Several important deliverables are also expected, including an assessment of ecological and socioeconomic risks in each case study, and a conceptual framework exploring the economics of tree-based solutions in forestry and agriculture. The early co-creation activities with stakeholders will continue, helping ensure that the project’s scientific results are grounded in real needs and practical contexts.
Mathilde Vidal, Senior Project Officer at ERINN Innovation, is the WP5 Communications Lead: “Trees4Adapt is a project I am genuinely glad to be part of. It addresses the complex risks of climate change and biodiversity loss at a moment when their impacts are increasingly visible. As a biodiversity advocate, I see this work as a necessity. With such a strong and motivated team, I am hopeful that the project will bring forward effective tree-based solutions that help protect ecosystems and support resilience across Europe.”
