New forest mitigation indicators to support climate-smart management
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Prosperous rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Forestry
- Nature and environment
- Climate
The Horizon Europe project OptFor-EU has developed a novel set of Essential Forest Mitigation Indicators (EFMIs) to guide climate-smart forest management across Europe. Designed through a participatory process involving scientists, forestry professionals and stakeholders, the 21 indicators are grouped into six categories, including carbon storage, forest health, biodiversity and climate adaptability.
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The EFMIs provide practical, science-based tools for assessing how different management practices affect forests’ role in climate mitigation and resilience. Importantly, they rely on open-access data such as satellite observations and climate models, making them accessible and scalable from local to national levels.
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For rural areas, where forests are central to livelihoods and ecosystems, the indicators offer a clear framework to support evidence-based policy, sustainable management, and alignment with EU climate and biodiversity goals. They will also help users assess how specific forest management choices influence climate outcomes, compare alternative approaches, and identify strategies that are both sustainable and scalable within the broader context of European climate and forest policy objectives.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on the topic of forestry.