Action 22003 - Forest Modeling and Information Systems(FORESTMOD)

Monitoring forests to ensure continuity and sustainable forest ecosystem services

Forests play a key role in the protection of European ecosystems, the sustainable use of natural resources, carbon sequestration, climate change and biodiversity. As a result of socio-economic pressures, forests are subject to fragmentation, atmospheric pollution, and degradation, and are vulnerable to climatic effects such as forest fires.

EU regulations have been implemented since the 1980’s with the aim of monitoring European forests and their environmental interactions. The FORESTMOD Action supports these activities by helping to improve access to harmonised data through the European Forest Data Center (EFDAC) (the focal point for forest information in Europe) and the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) (which forecasts and provides accurate information on the effects of forest fires in Europe). The FORESTMOD Action analyses the role that forests play in providing economic (e.g. timber, biomass for renewable energy, etc.) and ecological services (biodiversity, soil and water protection, etc.). It develops INSPIRE-compliant forest models and forestry information systems to help monitor and analyse forest spatial patterns and forest fragmentation in Europe.

The FORESTMOD Action monitors the status and trends of forests in relation to their extent and fragmentation, forest species distribution and the influence of climate change, in order to ensure sustainable provision of forest ecosystem services. It analyses forest management options that enhance forest adaptation to and mitigation of climate effects, focusing on land use and land use change and forestry (LULUCF) options.

Specific objectives of the Action

During 2013 the FORESTMOD Action will focus on the following main objectives:

1. Development of models (European Forestry Dynamics Model (EFDM)) and information systems of forestry dynamics to support the evaluation of policy options for sustainable forest management that ensure the provision of forest products and services in Europe in the face of potential threats (e.g. forest fires and pests) and based on likely climate change scenarios
2. Enhanced collection and harmonisation of forest information, assessment and valuation of forest ecosystem services, and monitoring of forest health and vitality including disturbances (e.g. forest fragmentation, forest fires, and pests).
3. Analysis of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in forestry.

The Action will also contribute to the implementation of the new EU Forestry Strategy and other EC initiatives regarding forest protection (Preparatory Action on a Legal Basis for EU Forest Information as a follow up of the Green Paper on ‘Forest Protection and Information Systems’ and the White Paper on ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’), forest biodiversity and ecosystem services (EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020) and the EC Communications on disaster response (COM(2008) 130) and prevention (COM(2009) 82).

EFFIS will implement new modules on smoke dispersion and analysis of the socio-economic impact of forest fires, and will continue to provide fire danger forecasts and real-time data on the evolution of large fires to the Monitoring and Information Centre of DG ECHO. EFFIS will also be expanded to include other non-EU, North African and Middle-East (MENA) countries as part of the development of a Global Wildfire Information System. 

More information can be found on the FORESTMOD Action website

Main customers

- DG Environment

- DG Agriculture and Rural Development

- DG Regional Policy

- European Environmental Agency (EEA)

- Members States

- United Nation Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

EU Legislation and Documents supported by this Action

- Regulation concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community (Forest Focus) – 2152/2003/EC

- EU Forest Strategy (1999/C 56/01) and EU Forest Action Plan for the implementation of the EU Forest Strategy – COM (2005) 84

- Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – 92/43/EEC

- Communication on halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond – COM (2006) 216

- Sixth Community Environment Action Programme

Further information

• JRC Project Browser - FORESTMOD

Contact Info

Jesús San-Miguel-Ayanz - Tel.: +39-0332-786138
E-mail: jesus.san-miguel(at)jrc.ec.europa.eu