Last week, the Integrate Network hosted its 11th Integrate Network Annual Meeting in Dublin. Under this year’s Irish chairmanship, the event brought together forest owners, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from across Europe to exchange on Integrative Forest Management (IFM) practices that balance biodiversity, resilience, and multifunctionality in managed forests.

Aside from expert presentations on integrating biodiversity conservation through IFM, relevant EU legislation and policy updates, and the Index of Biodiversity Potential (IBP), the meeting featured a dynamic World Café session with Irish forest owners. Here, the groups discussed challenges and opportunities of implementing IFM on the ground. 

Exciting field excursions took the network across Irish forests to showcase native woodland restoration and transformation research in Sitka spruce stands, highlighting integrative practices in action. At one of the excursion stops the participants were surprised by Irish folk music performed in the forest.

During the final excursion day, participants had the unique opportunity to enjoy lunch at a film set, a small Viking village nestled in the forest and part of the series Vikings: Valhalla. At this site, our Irish co-chairs Jonathan Spazzi and Dermot Dunphy also officially handed over the chairmanship to Hungary, the country that will take on the chairing in 2026.

What a way to end this year’s Integrate Network Annual Meeting in Ireland!

Stay tuned for a more in-depth article on our conference and excursion days in the coming weeks!