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 This booklet bring you a wide range of SFM practices implemented in European state forests to cope with climate change impacts, both in the context of adapting forests to climate change and making them climate resilient, hence maximizing their contribution to the overall mitigation objective. It also enhance understanding of how Europe’s forests can help to accomplish the ambitious objectives of the EU Green Deal and make Europe climate neutral and future fit.

Forests are critical to mitigation, having a dual role; they function globally as a net carbon sink but are also responsible for about 10 to 12 percent of global emissions. Forests and forest products offer both developed and developing countries a wide range of options for timely and cost-effective mitigation. Afforestation/reforestation offers the best option because of its short timescale and ease of implementation. Reducing deforestation, forest management and forest restoration also offer good mitigation potential, especially because of the possibility for immediate action. Yet forest contributions to mitigation also go beyond forest activities. Wood products and wood energy can replace fossil-intense products in other sectors, creating a virtuous cycle towards low-carbon economies. The mitigation potential and costs of the various options differ greatly by activity, region, system boundaries and time horizon. Policymakers must decide on the optimal mix of options, adapted to local circumstances, for meeting national climate change and development goals. This publication assesses the options and highlights the enabling conditions, opportunities and potential bottlenecks to be considered in making apt choices. Aimed at policymakers, investors and all those committed to transition to low-carbon economies, it will support countries in using forests and wood products effectively in their climate strategies.

The challenges posed by climate change, although global, show strong regional differences. Considering the diversity of forest types and different management traditions across Europe, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies must fit region-specific climate change projections and local circumstances. This report summarises the work of the Focus group. 10 Minipapers presented recommendations and innovative practices spanning a range of topics.

The Paris Agreement and the latest IPCC Assessment Report (2018) emphasize urgent and efficient actions for climate change mitigation. This means that we must rapidly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and, therefore, also the use of fossil-based raw materials, energy and products. Climate Smart Forestry (CSF) is one approach for achieving these goals in forests and the forest sector. CSF is more than just storing carbon in forest ecosystems. It builds upon three main objectives: first, reducing the net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; second, adapting and building forest resilience to climate change; and third, sustainably increasing forest productivity and economic welfare based on forestry. CSF can help to mitigate the EU’s CO2 emissions up to 20% by 2050 (Nabuurs et al. 2017).