From Evidence to Climate-Smart Forest Management: INFORMA Final Conference
Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and operational forest management was the main motto of the INFORMA Final Conference on 4 June 2026. The INFORMA project held its concluding event in Valencia, bringing together researchers, policymakers, forest practitioners, and institutional stakeholders from across Europe. Hosted at the MUVIM (Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity), the event marked the culmination of four years of research on sustainable forest management under climate change.
The conference served as a platform to present key project results, share policy recommendations, and discuss how forests can continue to support Europe’s climate, biodiversity, and bioeconomy goals in an increasingly uncertain future.
Forests at the Centre of Europe’s Climate Challenge
The day opened with institutional speeches and a keynote by Laura Liepiņa (European Commission, DG AGRI), who emphasised the central role of forests in EU strategies. European forests remain a major carbon sink and a cornerstone of the bioeconomy, while also supporting biodiversity and rural development. At the same time, they are under growing pressure from climate change, including fires, storms, pests and droughts.
Her message was clear: sustainable forest management is essential to maintain resilient and multifunctional forests, and research and innovation will play a key role in achieving the objectives of the EU Forest Strategy for 2030.
Climate Risks and Forest Disturbances: A Growing Concern
In his keynote, Prof. Víctor Resco de Dios (University of Lleida) highlighted the increasing intensity and complexity of forest disturbances, particularly wildfires.
Recent trends show not only more frequent fires, but also more intense and harder-to-control events, driven by fuel accumulation, landscape structure, and climate conditions.
A key insight from his presentation was that current approaches, particularly those focused solely on protection, can be counterproductive if they fail to address fuel dynamics and landscape management. As a takeaway message, Resco de Dios emphasised that effective forest governance must integrate risk, resilience, and active management, supported by scientific evidence.
INFORMA’s Contribution: From Fragmented Evidence to Integrated Solutions
In his keynote, INFORMA Coordinator Prof. José‑Vicente Oliver (UPV) presented the project’s main contribution: bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and operational forest management. He highlighted that European forests are entering a “new risk era”, where disturbances are no longer exceptional but structural. At the same time, expectations on forests continue to grow—from carbon sequestration to biodiversity, water regulation and bioeconomy development.
INFORMA addressed this challenge by integrating:
- Ecosystem science
- Forest management
- Climate mitigation and resilience
- Socio-economic and governance aspects
One of the key conclusions is that climate mitigation and adaptation cannot be separated, as carbon storage depends on forest resilience under future disturbances.
Policy, Innovation and the Future of Forests
The conference also addressed the evolving policy landscape, including carbon removals, forest credits, and the role of forests in EU climate targets.
Discussions highlighted the need to:
- Align carbon certification with resilience and regional diversity
- Create incentives for forest owners and managers
- Strengthen monitoring, reporting, and verification systems (MRV)
The final panel focused on the growing importance of carbon markets and certification schemes, and how they can support climate action while maintaining environmental integrity.
A Shared Conclusion: Towards Better Forest Management
With more than 100 participants from across Europe, the INFORMA Final Conference demonstrated the importance of dialogue between science, policy and practice in addressing the future of forests.
The overarching conclusion was clear: Europe’s forests do not need simply more or less management; they need better, adaptive, and region-specific management, capable of balancing multiple objectives under increasing climate pressure.