Action plan for the implementation of integrated forest solutions in the interior areas of the SUDOE space. Occitania (France) and Castile-La Mancha (Spain)
Strategy to adapt and mitigate forest masses to the scarcity of water resources, biodiversity loss, pests and fires while helping to curb the abandonment of rural areas in the SUDOE territory
The SocialForest project addresses the growing environmental pressures affecting forest territories in the SUDOE area and their impact on forest management, agroforestry systems and rural socio-economic development, exacerbated by rural abandonment and the lack of active management. With the aim of strengthening adaptation to climate change in Spain, France and Portugal, the project develops a Transnational Forest Strategy tested through seven pilot actions based on transnational cooperation and innovative methodologies. A key element of the approach is co-creation, implemented through a participatory and inclusive methodology involving public authorities, the economic sector, academia and civil society, enabling the design of viable and socially acceptable adaptation strategies structured around the pillars of resilience, resistance and transition, and translated into priority actions and operational tools for forest managers and local actors.
The European SocialForest project has organised technical workshops in Spain, France and Portugal to bring together experts and local stakeholders with the aim of adapting forest management in the SUDOE area to the challenges of climate change. Based on a shared diagnosis of issues such as drought, rural abandonment and loss of profitability, participants defined priority objectives and assessed management measures aimed at improving ecosystem services and the resilience of different forest habitats. These conclusions will serve as the basis for a practical tool to support local managers in making coherent decisions aligned with public policies.
Mediterranean forests in the SUDOE area are facing an increase in droughts associated with climate change, threatening their stability and the ecosystem services they provide. A temporal assessment focusing on representative forest stands in south-western Europe analyses their resilience to these events using NDVI time series and environmental factors such as altitude, aspect, slope and forest management. The results show that adaptive forest management significantly improves post-drought recovery capacity, highlighting its key role in a context of growing climatic stress.
These actions are helping good practices expand beyond the pilot sites, generating networks of knowledge and cooperation among regions facing similar challenges
The HITTS project has completed the participatory diagnosis of its seven partner territories in Spain, Portugal and France. The report identifies common challenges such as depopulation, tourism seasonality or environmental pressure, but also highlights exceptional heritage and strong local involvement. This deliverable marks a key milestone in designing a joint strategy to foster sustainable and inclusive tourism in the SUDOE region.
The Smart Green Water project, funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme, promotes a transnational mapping that identifies and highlights the main public and semi-public entities supporting the digitalisation of irrigation in south-western Europe. This initiative covers strategic regions of Portugal (Alentejo), Spain (Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Extremadura, and Murcia), and France (New Aquitaine and Occitania), territories where irrigation modernisation is key for agricultural sustainability and climate change adaptation.
The European textile industry is undergoing a period of profound transformation driven by the European Union’s commitment to sustainability, the circular economy, and decarbonization. In response to the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, the EU has articulated an ambitious regulatory framework affecting public administrations, citizens, companies, and waste managers. This article summarizes the main legislative initiatives in force and under development as of April 2025.
As part of this project, Xylofutur aims to establish a pilot zone in Nouvelle-Aquitaine with two innovative entities in the French forestry sector, particularly in the field of wildfire risk management. On the one hand, the project focuses on early fire detection, and on the other, on the post-fire phase, in order to accelerate and strengthen the growth of young plants through the use of biofertilisers. The objective is to promote innovations driven by start-ups that require funding and visibility to consolidate their activities.
