Opt For Eu
SMART DECISION FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
Opt For EU
Project
OptFor-EU is a European project that aims to develop with forest managers and other stakeholders in the forestry sector, a decision support system (DSS) that provides them with ways to responsibly manage forests to optimize ecosystem services (EES), improve forest resilience and their ability to mitigate climate change at the European level.
In order to comply with what is stipulated in the Paris Agreement and the climate neutrality target set by the Green
European Deal by 2050, significant reductions in anthropogenic emissions and increased
CO2 storage. In fact, forests, contribute to the absorption of carbon dioxide, managing to offset anthropogenic emissions, providing a large-scale buffer to climate change.
The contribution of forests to climate change mitigation varies according to their characteristics (species, age, site) and the management practices used.
In this context, the project “OPTimising FORest management decisions for a low-carbon, climate
resilient future in Europe (OptFor-EU)” (Optimizing forest management decisions for a low-carbon, climate resilient future in Europe) will build a decision support system (DSS) to provide forest managers and other stakeholders with tailored options for maximizing decarbonization and other forest ecosystem services (FES) across Europe.
Mission
- Provide a better characterization of the existing forest-climate relationship and ecosystem services
- Empower forest managers to make informed decisions to improve forest resilience and decarbonization
- Providing an innovative decision support service
- Create a link between EU strategic priorities, research, and forestry stakeholders
The methodology used will be based on a demand-supply approach, combining an iterative process of data consolidation, modeling and co-development of solutions together with forest managers and other
stakeholders, taking into consideration all European forest types.
The DSS will be designed and tested in 8 study areas (including one in Italy within the Model Forest of the Florentine Mountains), to provide a ready-to-use, Europe-wide service that if adopted will lead to improved social and commercial impacts of forests.
DISCOVER THE
Case Studies
Norway
Impact of climate change on decarbonization and ecosystem service delivery potential of Vestfold and Telemark County forests
Lithuania
Impact of climate change on decarbonization and ecosystem service delivery potential of forests within Čepkeliai National Park – Dzūkija
United Kingdom
Impact of climate change on the decarbonization of UK forests and the potential for ecosystem service provision using Wytham Woods as a case study
Germany
Development of rules for carbon budgeting and timber revenue taking into account other forest ecosystem services and climate change
Austria
Identify the maximum decarbonization potential of the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve without compromising other required ecosystem services
Romania
An altitudinal assessment of the impact of climate change on Romanian forest decarbonization and FES supply potential
Spain
Assessment of the impact of climate change on the decarbonization potential of pine forests in Extremadura. Specific challenge faced: fire, drought, erosion, rural depopulation.
Italy
Sustainability of the EDF provided by the Model Florentine Mountain Forest in the perspective of climate change and “climate neutrality” requirements
OUR
Partners
Funded by the European Union Horizon Europe programme, under Grant
agreement n°101060554. Views and opinions expressed are however those of
the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union
or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor
the granting authority can be held responsible for them.