Third party grants
Throughout the duration of the project, FORWARDS has launched five dedicated grant calls to establish the ForestWard Observatory and support the implementation and expansion of climate-smart restoration pilots, through third parties. These calls resulted in around 50 projects. All calls were managed by EFI (the European Forest Institute) and divided under five themes.
GRANT THEMES
1. Pilots of long-term climate impact forest monitoring sites
No. of grants: 20
Supported activities:
- Install new measurement equipment in existing monitoring pilots
- Perform measurements and maintain equipment
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ADAPT-FOREST Torus Actions / University of Helsinki, Finland
ADAPT-FOREST establishes a high-resolution monitoring supersite integrating tree growth, soil and climate measurements with AI-based stress detection systems. Learn more
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BorealNet Norwegian University of Life Sciences / Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
BorealNet establishes a nationwide monitoring network for boreal forests in Norway. Sensors, LiDAR and satellite data are used to monitor forest growth, stress and productivity. Learn more
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CsFagus Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Serbia
The project studies Balkan beech forests to assess climate change impacts and management practices. It monitors biodiversity, productivity and carbon sequestration using field measurements and IoT technologies. Learn more
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EnhanceForMed Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA / University of Patras, Greece
EnhanceForMed monitors Mediterranean forest resilience to drought and heatwaves using ecohydrological observations, UAVs and satellite data. The project supports climate adaptation strategies. Learn more
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FlyForSIF Fondazione Edmund Mach / CNR / University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy / CzechGlobe, Czech Republic
FlyForSIF combines hyperspectral and chlorophyll fluorescence airborne measurements to detect tree stress responses across European forest ecosystems. Learn more
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FORBEECH Slovenian Forestry Institute / Croatian Forest Research Institute / ILFE, Serbia
FORBEECH enhances monitoring of European beech forests in South-East Europe using terrestrial and airborne measurements. The project analyses climate impacts on forest resilience. Learn more
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ForStress Karlsruhe Institute of Technology / Technical University of Munich, Germany
ForStress develops Alpine monitoring supersites to assess drought stress and tree water dynamics. High-frequency dendrometer data and modelling support stress forecasting. Learn more
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iSINK Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
iSINK investigates how replacing coppice-regenerated forests with seed-origin trees can enhance forest carbon sinks. The project combines laser scanning and growth modelling to support climate-smart forestry. Learn more
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MIXFOR University of Copenhagen, Denmark
MIXFOR develops a mixed-forest experiment in Denmark to improve forest resilience to climate change. The project focuses on transforming Norway spruce plantations into more diverse ecosystems. Learn more
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MONIMATSCH Eurac Research, Italy
MONIMATSCH studies climate change impacts on Alpine forests using sensors, LiDAR and tree growth monitoring. The project also investigates carbon and nutrient cycling. Learn more
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MONIMED CREAF, Spain
The project monitors Mediterranean forests vulnerable to drought and wildfires through climate-smart management practices. It aims to improve ecosystem resilience, biodiversity and multifunctionality. Learn more
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NoBoCo University of Helsinki, Finland
The project establishes a monitoring network to assess how boreal pine and spruce forests respond to drought, frost and heat stress. Real-time sensors and hyperspectral imaging support the analysis. Learn more
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OAKS Croatian Forest Research Institute / Slovenian Forestry Institute / Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Serbia
The project improves monitoring of oak forests in South-East Europe through terrestrial and airborne measurements. It studies relationships between water availability, tree growth and climate conditions. Learn more
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ROAKS Marin Drăcea National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry, Romania
ROAKS studies climate change impacts on oak forests in Central and Eastern Europe. Field monitoring and remote sensing are combined to assess resilience, soil moisture and carbon storage. Learn more
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SensOFOREST Fundación CEAM / CSIC, Spain
SensOFOREST develops an integrated monitoring system using sensors, UAV surveys and satellite data for Mediterranean forests. The project focuses on forest stress, carbon stocks and resilience. Learn more
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UPLINK iiFLUX NV / Universiteit Antwerpen, Belgium
UPLINK upgrades the Brasschaat ICP Forest site into a FORWARDS supersite integrating sensors, UAV monitoring and ecosystem modelling. Learn more
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VARCLIREFOR Universiteit Utrecht / Staatsbosbeheer / Stichting Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Netherlands
VARCLIREFOR analyses sapling growth and survival under different climate and soil conditions. The project evaluates long-term impacts on forest carbon sequestration and ecosystem dynamics. Learn more
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WestWARD Technical University of Munich / Greifswald University / German Forest Institutions
WestWARD develops a monitoring network in Central Europe to detect early signals of climate stress. The project combines dendrometers, climate data and remote sensing technologies. Learn more
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ZOE-FS Environment Agency Austria
The project upgrades the Zöbelboden site into a ForestWard Observatory supersite. Advanced monitoring technologies will support stress assessment in Alpine forest ecosystems. Learn more
2. Characterisation of European forest disturbances
No. of grants: 8
Supported activities:
- Provide a Europe-wide, consistent, and statistically robust disturbance assessment for different project years
- Provide a detailed characterisation of cause-effect relationships for disturbances in and around the CSF and restoration priority areas
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CAEFD RDM Progetti S.r.l., Italy
CAEFD develops open-access datasets and tools to assess forest disturbances, carbon loss and recovery in Northern Europe. The project combines field surveys and remote sensing technologies. Learn more
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CE-ReDiFor Forest Research Institute, Poland
CE-ReDiFor establishes a large-scale reference database on forest disturbances in Poland by integrating field measurements with high-resolution remote sensing data. Learn more
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CEURDIST Technical University of Munich, Germany
CEURDIST develops a harmonised forest disturbance database for Central Europe using remote sensing data from 1985–2023. Learn more
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EFID RDM Progetti Ltd., Italy
EFID creates a forest disturbance reference dataset for Northern Europe using satellite and aerial imagery to support disturbance mapping. Learn more
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HALO-FARM Hybrid-Airplane Technologies GmbH, Germany
HALO-FARM deploys hybrid aircraft technology to collect high-resolution forest disturbance data in Germany and Austria. The project focuses on detecting windthrow, bark beetle outbreaks and drought stress through multispectral imagery and field measurements. Learn more
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IMAGEFORDIST CSIC, Spain / University of Lisbon, Portugal / University of Valladolid, Spain
IMAGEFORDIST develops scalable open-access forest disturbance and carbon-loss mapping approaches using Landsat and Sentinel imagery. The project applies machine learning and remote sensing analyses across representative European forest types. Learn more
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RIGOR-MED Agresta Sociedad Cooperativa, Spain
RIGOR-MED evaluates and harmonises disturbance products for Mediterranean forests using satellite time series and high-resolution imagery. Learn more
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TREAD CSIC, Spain / Universidad de Córdoba, Spain / ForestWISE, Portugal
TREAD develops early-warning approaches for forest decline by integrating remote sensing, field data and plant trait analysis. The project studies forest responses to drought, pests and diseases to improve early stress detection and conservation strategies. Learn more
3. Establishing Climate-Smart Forestry and forest restoration pilots in Europe
No. of grants: 15
Supported activities:
- Establish new CSFs and forest restoration trials
- Field measurements on newly established or existing CSFs and restoration trials
- Analyse the effectiveness of the practices, taking into account the indicators developed in FORWARDS
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AForMan Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Czech Republic
AForMan establishes field trials to test adaptive forest management and restoration practices under climate stress conditions. The project evaluates interventions such as thinning systems and drought-resistant species using field inventories and environmental monitoring. Learn more
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ALPFOR-CSF Eurac Research, Italy
ALPFOR-CSF evaluates climate-smart forestry practices in Alpine forests through long-term monitoring trials in the Italian Alps. The project analyses biodiversity, carbon sequestration and resilience using UAV imagery, dendrometers and simulation models. Learn more
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Armenia 17x17 Armenia Tree Project, Armenia
The project restores 17 hectares of degraded land in Armenia through community-led afforestation using native tree species and climate-smart forestry practices.
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CALI-LAB Institutul pentru Științele Vieții / Administrația Parcului Național Cǎlimani, Romania
CALI-LAB establishes field trials in the Călimani Mountains to test adaptive forest management and restoration practices against windthrow and bark beetle outbreaks.
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CLIBIFO E.C.O. Institute of Ecology / Nature and Geo Park Styrian Eisenwurzen, Austria
CLIBIFO tests innovative forest management practices in Norway spruce stands to improve resilience to climate change, pests and natural hazards, through species diversification, alternative thinning and deadwood retention.
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DEADWOOD-DIST University of Copenhagen, Denmark
DEADWOOD-DIST investigates how the distance from deadwood influences tree regeneration, growth and key Climate-Smart Forestry indicators.
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FIRE-RESCUE Udruženje za zaštitu okoliša i unapređenje turizma / Šumarstvo Prenj Konjic dd, Bosnia and Herzegovina
FIRE-RESCUE establishes field trials in burned forests of Bosnia and Herzegovina to evaluate climate-smart post-fire restoration strategies.
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NATMIXFOR University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
NATMIXFOR compares managed and unmanaged mixed forests to assess resilience, biodiversity and climate adaptation potential. Experimental plots in Bosnia and Herzegovina support the evaluation of Climate-Smart Forestry indicators. Learn more
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RECLAIM TU Dresden, Germany
RECLAIM investigates how pioneer forests can support ecosystem recovery and carbon stock restoration after large-scale disturbances. The project establishes permanent plots and tests adaptive tree planting strategies beneath pioneer canopies. Learn more
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SMART-OAK University of Granada, Spain / University of Insubria, Italy
SMART-OAK evaluates oak restoration strategies and resilience after disturbances across European restoration sites. The project compares seeded and nursery-grown regeneration while analysing biomass, soil carbon and biodiversity indicators. Learn more
4. Citizen and stakeholder engagement in Climate-Smart Forestry and forest restoration
No. of grants: 15
Supported activities:
- Implement innovative social engagement activities
- Stakeholder surveys, workshops or other interactive formats for knowledge development, joint vision development, collective learning, collaborative planning or co-creating solutions
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EduCyprus Periopsis Ltd., Cyprus
EduCyprus promotes awareness and education on Climate-Smart Forestry in Cyprus through workshops, field visits and geospatial tools. The project strengthens local participation in forest restoration and climate adaptation initiatives. Learn more
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FAB Cirka cph ApS / University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Forest for All Beings (FAB) develops participatory frameworks that involve citizens and stakeholders in climate-smart forestry and restoration decisions. Pilot activities combine ecological awareness, community engagement and inclusive forest governance. Learn more
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FoResil Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo, Spain
FoResil strengthens adaptive forest governance in the Aragonese Pyrenees through community participation and climate-smart management practices. The project supports collaboration between municipalities, forest administrations and local communities. Learn more
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Gigantes Verdes VERDE / Rewilding Iberia, Portugal
Gigantes Verdes trains citizens to identify, map and monitor mature native trees as key elements of biodiversity and carbon storage. The initiative combines citizen science, ecological education and community-based forest stewardship. Learn more
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Green Galicia Gallanova Norte S.L.U., Spain
Green Galicia supports wildfire prevention and sustainable forest management through community participation and climate-smart practices. The project develops natural firebreaks, training activities and digital tools for fire-risk monitoring. Learn more
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LIVING_FORESTS Fundación Centro de Estudios Eurorregionales Galicia Norte de Portugal, Portugal / Fundación Montescola, Spain
LIVING_FORESTS creates a participatory network of community forests in Galicia to exchange best practices on climate-smart forestry and wildfire prevention. The project promotes knowledge sharing, biodiversity conservation and community engagement initiatives. Learn more
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MIMONTE Fundación Desert Leaves / Pego Viu / Egenerastudio, Spain
MIMONTE promotes climate-smart restoration and management of Mediterranean forests in degraded areas of eastern Spain. The project engages local communities, municipalities and NGOs in reforestation and sustainable governance initiatives. Learn more
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RESTART Spiritus Mundi ODV / Collettivo Pictor, Italy
RESTART combines educational activities, guided visits and artistic initiatives to raise awareness about lowland forest restoration in Italy. The project promotes public engagement with climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Learn more
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Y-FOREST Centar za mlade VG, Croatia
Y-FOREST empowers youth and local communities through education and participation in climate-smart forestry activities. Workshops, campaigns and volunteer initiatives promote sustainable forest management and restoration practices. Learn more
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#RootConnection Hnutí DUHA, Czech Republic
#RootConnection creates a Central European platform connecting small forest owners, foresters and policymakers to promote climate-smart forestry. The project supports networking, training activities and policy advocacy focused on resilient forest management. Learn more
5. Knowledge to Practice
Approximate no. of grants: 2
Supported activities:
- Develop web applications that link to the ForestWard Observatory and rely on its datasets
NETWORKS OF CSF PILOT SITES AND SUPERSITES
A Europe-wide network of pilot and supersites advancing forest monitoring and climate resilience