Description

FORWARDS is a project funded by the European Union that will prototype the Forest-Ward Observatory,
a pan-European monitoring and evaluation system that will help assess how European forests respond to the impacts of climate change. It will document current restoration activities concerning forests, biodiversity, carbon, and soils, and explore various restoration options to guide decision-making processes towards climate-smart forest management. One of the aims of the FORWARDS project is to engage and empower citizens and stakeholders in the co-creation of solutions that will support the future of forests amidst climate change challenges. In line with this goal, this grant call seeks to foster the development of inclusive initiatives that encourage the participation of citizens and stakeholders in decision-making processes for Climate Smart Forestry (CSF) and forest restoration at the forest management or policy level. Specifically, it aims to strengthen participatory governance by supporting the creation of structures and processes that actively involve citizens and stakeholders in the development of forest management and restoration strategies—on forest holdings or at governance levels. This call will support activities that employ various levels of societal engagement ranging from local community initiatives to larger regional or national programmes in Europe. Supported projects and activities will either complement existing, or implement new, social engagement activities in the context of Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) or forest restoration.