One year after the launch of the Trees4Adapt project, partners from across Europe came together in Lisbon, Portugal, for the project's annual in-person consortium meeting. Hosted by the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), University of Lisbon, with support from the Forest Research Centre (CEF), School of Agriculture (ISA), the meeting provided an opportunity to review progress, share results, strengthen collaboration and plan the next stages of the Horizon Europe project, which explores how tree-based solutions can help address the interconnected challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss across Europe.
Partners were warmly welcomed to the IGOT premises by Professor José Luís Zêzere, Director of the Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG) and Professor at IGOT. The consortium also received a welcome message from João Manuel Esteves, Portugal's Secretary of State for the Environment, who highlighted the importance of scientific research in supporting climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.
"Trees4Adapt is particularly relevant in producing scientific knowledge for nature-based solutions, founded on the role of forests in climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. We will follow its results closely," translated from João Manuel Esteves’s message to Trees4Adapt team.
Over the course of two days, project partners shared results, discussed challenges, compared experiences from across Europe and planned the next phase of the project. The meeting highlighted just how much progress has been achieved during Trees4Adapt's first year.
Among the many activities presented, researchers from Ghent University showcased extensive field surveys carried out within the long-term TreeDivNet and FunDivEUROPE research platforms. These surveys, conducted across seven European countries over 99 days, are helping researchers understand how changes in tree diversity influence the microclimate, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning under changing environmental conditions.
Significant progress has also been made within Trees4Adapt's case studies in Finland, Germany and Portugal, where researchers and stakeholders are working together to explore the effects of locally applied tree-based solutions and co-create practical approaches for more resilient landscapes. Led by the University of Würzburg, Royal Holloway, University of Turku, Luke, IGOT, ISA and Prospex Institute, these activities are generating valuable insights into how adaptation strategies can be applied in different environmental and socio-economic contexts.
Partners also presented advances in modelling future risks and opportunities across Europe. Led by Luke and IIASA, this work is assessing both the economic implications of tree-based solutions and their potential to address climate and biodiversity risks at larger scales, helping identify where and how different approaches may deliver the greatest benefits.
Alongside the scientific work, consortium members have continued strengthening stakeholder networks, sharing knowledge and ensuring that project results reach relevant audiences and decision-makers across Europe. Members of Trees4Adapt’s international stakeholder board also joined the meeting online and provided valuable feedback on ongoing project activities.
Following the indoor sessions in Lisbon, partners travelled to Serra da Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain range and one of Trees4Adapt's three case study areas.
Guided by the concept of “Walking Through The Change,” researchers, stakeholders, and local experts -including representatives from ICNF, Baldios de São Pedro, Palombar, Geopark Estrela, and Bee Serra da Estrela - explored the landscapes at the heart of the Portuguese case study. The visit offered a unique opportunity to move from meeting rooms to the field and experience first-hand the challenges facing Mediterranean landscapes under increasing climate pressure.
As the group travelled through valleys and mountain slopes, discussions focused on the history of the region and how decades of rural depopulation, less intensive land-use, reduced landscape management and rising temperatures have transformed the landscape. Attention was given to the characteristics of each forest diversification option under evaluation in the CS. Throughout the discussions, participants learned how the decline of traditional grazing systems, combined with extensive pine plantations, limited forest management, decision-making and extreme heat and drought has contributed to a growing wildfire risk and socio-ecological instability in the region.
One of the most striking stops was an area affected by the devastating 2022 wildfire —a stark real-world example of how climate extremes collide with a socio-ecological system unadapted to these changing conditions. Here, participants were able to observe both natural and assisted regeneration and discuss what works, what does not, and where intervention may be needed to help ecosystems recover. The conversations repeatedly returned to the vital role of tree diversity, mixed forests and landscape mosaicking as tools for reducing wildfire risk while supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods. Observations of nearby forest mosaics planted with alternative species that had survived recent wildfires better than neighbouring areas also highlighted the importance of tree species choice and prompted discussion on how reforestation approaches may need to evolve as environmental conditions continue to change.
A particularly valuable aspect of the visit was the opportunity to learn from professionals working directly at the interface between science and practice. Among them was ecologist and firefighter Dr. Silvana Pais, whose work combines wildfire management, ecology and landscape modelling. Discussions explored how approaches such as prescribed burning can help reduce wildfire risk when carefully planned and implemented, while also highlighting the importance of public understanding and trust in these management practices.
The visit also provided an opportunity to discover the cultural and economic heritage of the region through a tour of a traditional wool factory. Sheep farming and wool production have long been part of life in Serra da Estrela, offering another reminder that decisions about landscapes are also decisions about the communities that depend on them.
Throughout the day, the discussions repeatedly returned to the same question: what should the forests of Serra da Estrela look like in the future? With extreme wildfire events becoming more frequent, returning to the landscapes of the past may no longer be enough or even possible. Instead, researchers, stakeholders and land managers explored how different combinations of tree species, forest management approaches and landscape configurations could help create more resilient futures.
These are exactly the types of questions Trees4Adapt aims to address over the coming years. By combining field observations, stakeholder knowledge and modelling approaches, the project is helping to build a clearer picture of which tree-based solutions are most likely to succeed under future climate conditions, and where they can deliver the greatest benefits for both nature and people.