The implementation of Madrid Ministerial Resolution 2 through the FOREST EUROPE Work Programme 2016 – 2020 focuses on integrating climate change adaptation considerations into sustainable forest management. This thematic area aims at strengthening the resilience of forests and enhancing their protection against natural hazards and human induced threats associated with climate in the pan-European region. An Expert Group will assess the current state of implementation of adaptation measures mainly at national level. The outcomes will be published in a publication “Integration of adaptation measures into sustainable forest management in Europe”, covering the existing knowledge base and work done in the region, and identifying policy relevant options and recommendations. Two technical Workshops will underpin the implementation efforts in this area.
The first Workshop will be organized in spring 2018 with the aim to share expertise and experience on protection of forests against current and future natural hazards and human induced threats especially those of transboundary character, e.g. drought, forest fires, storms, floods, avalanches, invasive pests, diseases and alien species. The second Workshop (tentatively to be held in autumn 2018) will assess the current knowledge and make recommendations for further work on agroforestry strategies for promoting adaptation to climate change and combating land degradation and desertification.
Related Information
- Background document for the Expert Group
- FOREST EUROPE Side event – “Perspectives and challenges ahead in European cooperation on forests” at Fifth World Forest Week at FAO
- The first meeting of the Expert Group on Adaptation to Climate Change
FOREST EUROPE commitments towards adaptation to climate change
Prior to the Madrid Resolution 2 “Protection of forests in a changing environment“ adaptation to climate change had been addressed in two ministerial commitments at the Ministerial Conferences in Helsinki and Vienna. In addition, several other Resolutions have partially or indirectly also covered this important thematic area. These political commitments provide the entry point for the assessment of the state of implementation of climate change adaptation measures in signatory countries.
- Helsinki Resolution 4 “Strategies for a process of long-term adaptation of forests in Europe to climate change” (1993)
- Vienna Resolution 5 “Climate change and sustainable forest management in Europe” (2003)
Further reading – recent publications, project websites, broader policy linkages
Publications:
- Climate change guidelines for forest managers. FAO Forestry Paper 172 (2013)
- Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in European Forests. EFI Policy Brief 6 (2011)
- Reading of interest
Project websites:
- Models for Adaptive Forest Management (MOTIVE) – http://motive-project.net
- ECHOES: Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture – http://echoes.gip-ecofor.org
- FORGER: Towards the sustainable management of forest genetic resources in Europe – http://www.fp7-forger.eu/
- Strengthening conservation: a key issue for adaptation of marginal/ peripheral populations of forest trees to climate change in Europe (MAP-FGR) – http://map-fgr.entecra.it/
- European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) – www.euforgen.org
- GENTREE: Optimizing the management and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Europe – http://www.gentree-h2020.eu/
- LIFE FOREST CO2 – http://lifeforestco2.eu/
- AFORCE Network on Adaptation of Forests to Climate Change – www.reseau-aforce.fr
- SUSTREE: Sustaining forest diversity in times of climate change – http://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/SUSTREE.html
- European Union EIP-AGRI Focus Group – https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/content/focus-groups/new-forest-practices-and-tools-adaptation-and
Broader policy linkages