Facing the increasing environmental and socioeconomic challenges that threaten the forests of southwestern Europe, the SocialForest project stands out as an avant-garde and collaborative initiative.
Funded by the European Territorial Cooperation Program Interreg, SocialForest aims to adapt the forests of Spain, France, and Portugal to climate change, strengthen their resilience to natural disasters, and contribute to the development of the rural areas in which they are located.
Among its goals, SocialForest aims to develop a Transnational Forestry Strategy and Action Plans based on an ecosystem-based approach and the services these provide.
To this end, it has defined seven strategically selected pilot sites in the regions of Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Alentejo, Occitanie, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which are representative of the main forests in southwestern Europe: pine forests, holm oak groves, juniper forests, agroforestry systems, oak groves, and beech forests.
Thanks to satellite monitoring work, it has already been possible to identify the degree of response of some of these forests to episodes such as rising temperatures, prolonged drought periods, etc., characteristic of the current climate change scenario.
Particularly interesting have been the initial results obtained, which have allowed us to identify how a well-managed forest is significantly more resilient than one lacking management.
The consequences of this study are very relevant since, on one hand, they debunk conservation approaches based on “non-action” and, on the other, they convey to society as a whole (owners, managers, administrations, companies, citizens) the enormous challenge of how to make such forest management effective in a territory like that of southwestern Europe, where it is deficient, and where many forests have serious problems of abandonment derived from rural exodus.
Precisely, ensuring the durability and sustainability of forest management and promoting the replicability of the results achieved is one of the goals of SocialForest. To this end, throughout 2025 and 2026, it will launch a series of training initiatives that will include workshops, seminars, and courses designed to improve the skills of forest owners and managers, as well as other key actors.
SocialForest closely aligns with the objectives of the European Green Deal. Through its integrated forest management strategy, the project directly contributes to the conservation of habitats and species, the protection of biodiversity, the sustainable use of natural resources, the promotion of the bioeconomy, and the strengthening of the adaptation of forest management to climate change.
PROJECT PROGRESS
An investment in climate action and rural areas
With a total budget of €1,851,089, 75% of which is funded by ERDF funds, SocialForest brings together a broad international consortium made up of nine partners from Spain, France and Portugal, combining expertise in environmental management, scientific research and rural development.
Stronger forests, more active communities
The main objective of SocialForest is twofold: to enhance the climate resilience of forests in the Sudoe area and to promote the socio-economic development of rural areas through sustainable forest management. To achieve this, the project adopts an innovative approach that combines technologies such as remote sensing, multi-objective forest decision-support tools and participatory methodologies, involving forest owners, managers, companies, public authorities and local communities.
Expected results include the development of a Transnational Forest Strategy, the implementation of pilot actions on the ground, the training of forest managers and the creation of a management model transferable to other regions of southern Europe.
Territorial diagnosis and social participation: first steps towards the strategy
To achieve its objectives, the consortium has structured its work around different Working Groups (WGs).
Technical activities are organised into three main Working Groups:
- WG1: Development of a Transnational Forest Strategy combining climate resilience and rural development.
- WG2: Implementation of pilot actions to address climate risks and depopulation.
- WG3: Promotion of long-term sustainability through the training of public and private forest managers.
Current state of implementation
The consortium has focused its efforts on WG1, which is dedicated to the development of the Transnational Forest Strategy. Coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), this Working Group began with a comprehensive diagnosis of forest stands in each region, using remote sensing technologies and analysing the factors that influence the resilience of the selected forest systems.
This technical analysis was complemented by a participatory phase. Through interviews and workshops held in the three countries, the views of key stakeholders were gathered regarding ecosystem services and management priorities.
As a result, groups of priority measures were identified, ranging from improvements in the water cycle and biodiversity to vocational training, governance and the promotion of private forest management, comprising more than 70 action tactics. The consortium assessed their applicability and categorised them according to resistance, resilience or transition approaches, leading to the drafting of the Transnational Forest Strategy.
Pilot actions: practical application and cutting-edge technology
Working Group 2 (WG2) focuses on the design and implementation of pilot actions aimed at validating the strategy’s proposals on the ground.
These pilot actions make it possible to assess measures designed to improve soil stability, reduce wildfire risk, enhance biodiversity, decrease vulnerability to pests and diseases, and strengthen social engagement in forest management.
They also represent a central component of the project, as they allow for the testing of replicable solutions, the measurement of their territorial impacts and the generation of knowledge transferable to other contexts within the SUDOE area.
Coordination, knowledge transfer and future outlook
During 2026, Working Group 3 (WG3) will focus on the sustainability and replicability of the management model, as well as on the training of public and private forest managers. Its launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, once the results of the pilot actions have been consolidated.
