Deadline Date: February 01, 2026
The European Forest Institute is now accepting grant applications to strengthen Europe’s response to climate change impacts on forests through science-based monitoring, evaluation, and collaborative action.
At the heart of the project is the development of the ForestWard Observatory, a pan-European tool that will help demonstrate how climate change is affecting forest ecosystems and support informed decision-making for practical and adaptive forest management across Europe.
As part of its core activities, the FORWARDS project will establish a network of climate-smart forestry and restoration pilot sites. These pilots will generate reference knowledge based on real-world evidence, supporting effective forest management practices that contribute to climate change mitigation, climate adaptation, and biodiversity enhancement. The project emphasizes long-term learning by ensuring that field trials continue beyond the funded period, creating lasting value for forest research and management.
A central pillar of FORWARDS is strong engagement with citizens and stakeholders. The project promotes co-creation by involving local communities, forest managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in shaping solutions for the future of Europe’s forests. Through consultations, policy dialogues, and engagement activities at local, regional, and national levels, FORWARDS seeks to raise awareness, assess social impacts, and empower communities to actively contribute to climate-smart forestry decisions and policies. This inclusive approach helps ensure that developed tools and solutions are practical, relevant, and widely adopted.
To support these objectives, the project is offering grants of up to €150,000 for the establishment of new or the continuation of existing forest field trials relevant to climate-smart forestry and restoration in Europe. While individual grants are capped at this amount, the total budget of supported activities may exceed €150,000. Funded projects are expected to begin by May 2026 and may run for up to 12 months, with a commitment to maintain the field trials for at least three years beyond the project’s completion.
Grant applications may be submitted by a single legal entity or a consortium of legal entities. All applicants must be legal persons and eligible for funding under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. Applications from natural persons are not eligible.
Through its integrated approach to science, policy, and public engagement, the FORWARDS project aims to build resilient forest management systems that respond effectively to climate change while supporting biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the long-term sustainability of Europe’s forests.
For more information, visit EFI.
