Develop solutions to protect biodiversity and enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems.
The European Union is committed to halting biodiversity loss caused by intensive land and forest use, as well as climate change. The SafeNet project aims to develop solutions that not only protect biodiversity but also enhance the adaptability and resilience of forest ecosystems. By creating an innovative toolkit for sustainable forest management, the project considers aspects related to climate change mitigation, timber production, and ecosystem services.
SafeNet integrates state-of-the-art biodiversity monitoring methods with advanced mathematical modeling techniques, combining large-scale remote sensing data with species distribution information. This approach enables a deeper understanding of how climate change affects forest ecosystems, species distribution, and migration patterns. The goal is to predict these changes in advance and respond proactively through conservation measures, the protection of ecologically valuable forests, and habitat connectivity enhancement.
SafeNet follows a collaborative approach, bringing together researchers, policymakers, forest managers, and civil society organizations to develop sustainable solutions. To ensure broad impact at the European level, the project engages stakeholders through regional Living Labs and an EU-wide Policy Lab, where innovative strategies are designed and tested.
ESSRG’s Role in the SafeNet Project
ESSRG leads Work Package 1 (WP1) of the SafeNet project, which focuses on fostering active stakeholder engagement and co-creating knowledge throughout the project’s lifecycle. Acting as facilitators and planners, our primary role is to support other work packages in developing effective and applicable methods for engaging with stakeholders.
A key focus is on project partners conducting case studies at local and regional levels, examining forest management challenges and opportunities. To support this, we develop tools that facilitate dialogue between different interest groups, promote collaborative decision-making, and contribute to the design of sustainable forest management models.
Through workshops, interactive sessions, and strategic planning processes, we ensure that the policy recommendations and conservation strategies emerging from the project are practical and relevant for stakeholders.
By playing a central role in bridging research and practice, ESSRG ensures that SafeNet’s outcomes contribute to the long-term protection and sustainable management of European forests.
The SafeNet project is supported by the European Union’s Horizon programme (Grant Agreement No. 101181981).