Work Package 6

Work Package 6 is led by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and focuses on finding the best ways to manage and protect forests at the local level, especially under changing climate conditions. The team is working closely with stakeholders in four case study areas across Europe’s main forest regions: Mediterranean, temperate, montane, and boreal. These areas include both high conservation value forests and production forests. Using detailed simulations (with tools like iLand, MultiOptForest and more) and real landscape data, the team is exploring how different management strategies affect biodiversity, carbon storage, and other benefits forests provide. These simulations allow researchers to test how forests might respond to climate change and disturbances over time.

The project also identifies practices that offer win-win outcomes for both nature and people. By combining scientific modelling with local knowledge, SafeNet aims to develop practical and cost-effective strategies that improve forest resilience and connectivity. These strategies will be discussed and refined with local partners to ensure they are realistic and widely supported.