Dear Friends of the Integrate Network,

Ireland’s time as Chair of the Integrate Network has offered us a valuable opportunity to reflect on how collaboration, shared learning, and open dialogue can support the wider adoption of integrative forest management across Europe.

Ireland took the chair of the Network following from Austria’s excellent work in 2024 where we started to focus on private forest owner’s experience. This focus has continued this year where we invited private forest owners into the Network to join an open dialogue with researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers.

This approach was reflected in the webinar “After the Storm: Pathways to forest recovery and restoration in Ireland and beyond” organised in June to discuss storm Éowyn’s impact on Irish forests and featuring  a forest owner as keynote speaker. This was also central to the 11th Integrate Network Annual Meeting in Dublin organised in October, where we invited a number of leading forest owners involved in close to nature management to bring their prospectives, thoughts, aspirations, achievements, and challenges forward and share the discussion space with policy actors, researchers, practitioners, and educators. Over 4 days, we took an interactive approach to encourage exchange including a World Café workshop that focused on successes and challenges in Integrative Forest Management (IFM) practices and a practical group exercise in forest testing the Index of Biodiversity for Potential (IBP) survey protocol.

Through the experiences of Irish forest owners, we have seen during the year how practical engagement in the forest can foster a deeper understanding of the balance between wood production, biodiversity conservation, recreation, and long-term sustainability.

During our time as Chairs, we also enjoyed representing the Network to many national and European events with relevance to the promotion of integrative forest management such as the SUPERB expert workshop: “bridging people and policy in forest restoration initiatives” in Switzerland,  ProSilva Ireland 25 year anniversary conference , ProSilva Europe annual meeting, in Sardinia, Italy  and the Integrate Workshop in Zürich on “ Increasing biodiversity to promote adaptation and resilience of European forests by using close to nature forestry”.

As we conclude our term, Ireland hopes that our reflections inspire member countries to further promote integrative forest management by:

• valuing the experience and perspective of forest owners,
• supporting knowledge exchange through field days, networks, and peer learning,
• and applying practical tools like the IBP to build capacity and drive positive change.

With continued cooperation, the Integrate Network can help ensure that European forests remain productive, resilient, and rich in biodiversity for generations to come.

We now look forward to contributing to the Integrate Network’s further development under the Hungarian Chairmanship in 2026.

Finally, we would like to thank the Integrate Network Secretariat for their continued support during 2025 and to wish our friends and colleagues in the Network a Happy New Year!

Dermot Dunphy (Department of Agriculture and Jonathan Spazzi – Integrate Network Co-Chairs 2025

Want to read more updates from the Integrate Network? Read our Issue 9 – December 2025 Newsletter.

It was a dark and murky evening as I paved my way through Harcourt Street in Dublin. That’s when I suddenly found myself in a pub – not the kind where a lad or lass would sing a folk song – but rather a cosy, wooden, meeting room turned pub, where I’d stumble across familiar forest faces. Of course, I was in the right place – the social reception of our Integrate Network Annual Meeting! Starting off with a traditional Irish dance workshop, organised by our chairs, we started our gathering with some artistic engagement and reminisced about our past meeting in Austria. Such a social reception provided fertile ground to dive into an intensive 3-day programme on “Promoting Integrative Forest Management Practices in Managed Forests through Policy, Science & Practice” – reflecting on pioneers in young forest lands and the journey of “a forest culture emerging” in Ireland!

On the conference day, we were warmly welcomed by the current chairs, Dermut Dunphy (Department of Agriculture) and Jonathan Spazzi (Teagasc). They introduced how, during the Annual Meeting, we will look closer at transformative approaches, in a country having a forest cover of currently 11% – highlighting that Ireland is still a “blank canvas” of some sort. Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture) added that the forest is like an animal, you don’t let it get devastated by bad weather, you ensure taking care of it. Forests are as diverse as their owners, and so are forest management approaches. Thus, co-learning and exchange are crucial, as emphasised by Jonathan, and that is what the Integrate Network stands for. Andreas Schuck (EFI) echoed this as he greeted everyone on behalf of the Integrate Secretariat. Bringing attention to the research-policy-practice nexus that drives the work of the Integrate Network, he mentioned, “policies only work if they are applied in practice and supported by scientific evidence”.

How can concepts, new networks and EU legislation support biodiverse and resilient forests?

The scene was set for Rahel Könen (EFI) to moderate through the first set of presentations. Andreea Spinu (University of Freiburg) shed light on the origins and understanding of diverse forest management terms, such as continuous cover forestry, integrative forest management, close-to-nature forest management, and biodiversity-friendly management.  In the HE Transformit project, they investigate the scale of these concepts in relation to biodiversity challenges, not only at the stand level but also landscape level. How to deal with the many biotic and abiotic risks to forests was presented by Silvia Abruscato (EFI), coordinator of the Pan-European Forest Risk Facility Secretariat (FoRISK). The increase in disturbances asks for timely, expert-based input – especially as disturbances start occurring in regions with limited experience in dealing with them. To facilitate this process, this knowledge hub and network bring together different actors and strive to become a platform that shares innovative approaches, good practice examples, evidence-based lessons learned and provides expertise and knowledge in emergency cases. We continue at the European scale with Stefanie Schmidt (DG Environment), providing us the latest updates from the European Commission, in particular on the policy frame (e.g., the voluntary guidelines, nature restoration regulation), incentives, and the next steps on the EU agenda (i.e., developing rules and standards for biodiversity-focused voluntary forest certification schemes and nature credits). Then we moved to a more local research practice. Ian Short (Teagasc) gave us insights into Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) in science and on the ground, from an Irish perspective. What started as a search for alternatives to clear-cutting evolved into a long-term recording of experiences transforming Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) stands to CCF, which we had the opportunity to observe on the last excursion day.

“You can’t manage what you didn’t measure”

As forest managers, everyone knows it can be beneficial to have an easy-to-use diagnostic tool for biodiversity-oriented management. This is where the  Index for Biodiversity Potential comes in, presented and developed by Pierre Gonin (CNPF) and Laurent Larrieu (CNPF). This index is based on a rapid assessment of ten factors that influence the capacity of forest stands to support animal, plant, and fungal species. Since 2008, it has found its way from research into practice, sparking interest and use by Jonathan Spazzi (Teagasc) and Teresa Baiges (CPF), who shared their practical experiences. Later, on the second day of the programme, we had the chance to experience an IBP assessment first-hand during a field training.

“Communication and training are vital tools that we learn from” said Pádraig Ó Tuama and Manus Crowley (Pro Silva Ireland). Coming from a monoculture forest culture of clear-cutting and replanting, biodiversity was mainly confined to native woodlands. However, with the transformation in management and culture, biodiversity in forest stands was improved. An important driver is exchanging knowledge and perspectives, especially through in-forest field events. As early pioneers, they conveyed their experience through demonstration and research plots, and soon ProSilva turned their training into a so-called ‘community of practice’. This story was echoed by Olive Leavy, giving a forest owner’s perspective –describing the community as a motley crew, working towards the same goal. For her forest, it was important to have peer support to transform her ash dieback stands. Transforming Ireland is a shared endeavour in which the people are important –including trust in support, education and financial incentives that can encourage forest owners to implement changes. Forest culture is therefore an important factor for change, she noted. During the afternoon, an interactive World Café, facilitated by Jonathan Spazzi and Rahel Könen, encouraged meeting participants to share their experiences and listen to voices “from the ground” by having an Irish forest owner present at each of the five tables. The opportunity to exchange perspectives related to challenges and opportunities of implementing forest management and biodiversity conservation was well received. Elaborating a common vision on how to collaborate better was a central discussion point and can be read about here. Thereafter, Elisabeth Schatzdorfer and Bernhard Wolfslehner (EFI) presented the Forest Knowledge Gateway, a new knowledge-based platform that serves as a valuable entry point for finding relevant scientific and practical information, inspiration and contacts for supporting integrative management and forest restoration efforts. The evening concluded with a lively dinner, and the next morning the group shifted from theory to practice – ready to firsthand explore Ireland’s forest landscapes.

Devils at Work

On the second day, we were on our way to the first excursion stop called “Devil’s Glen”. As the legend says, the landscape was formed by an enraged Devil, announcing great doom. On the contrary, we found a story of collaboration between different stakeholders, bound together by a river, the Vartry, that runs through the valley. We met Declan Little (Coillte) and colleagues, and a representative from Inland Fisheries Ireland. The stream itself is affected by the different neighbours, 2 strategies, and a common goal. These woodlands, being 120 ha of mixed forests, are used on one side of the river commercially and on the other for biodiversity conservation. As we were walking towards the river, it was not the devil’s roar or waterfall we witnessed, but instead flutes that sang as the river flows – a musical endeavour organised as a surprise by our Irish chairs.  As we enjoyed a couple of traditional songs, we learned that at this river, they saw a decline of salmon and trout, as the river was under pressure from dams and adjacent towns. On Coillte’s side, non-native species have been pressuring the endemic vegetation, including e.g. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). Coillte and the Fisheries found each other, and there were no Devils at work there.

They aligned goals and found a common interest in the preservation of a healthy forest and river. Coillte started with promoting a direction towards native woodlands, favouring locally adapted species, and transforming stands to a CCF management system. In turn, this favoured the river and its natural dynamics. There was a need to slow down the river and, in this way, restore river dynamics. Trees were felled in the right direction, bulking them up, thus creating ecological niches for fish and creating pools for cover. By creating gaps in the canopy, more light reached the grounds and affected the temperatures in the water. The effect seemed to have paid off, as the salmon have come back since 2015, and trout are also higher in numbers. Coillte promotes native species, more structure in forest stands and biodiversity, which aligns with the goals set by Fisheries.

Discussions continued over lunch in a pub and set the scene for the afternoon at Oak Park near Teagasc HQ in Carlow. At the field site, we are welcomed by the Teagasc director, Frank O’Mara. He touched upon the importance of the Integrate Network, as it corresponds well with what Teagasc stands for, bringing together education, research, training, and professional support. As Irish forests are very young, they offer many opportunities for enhancing biodiversity and adapting to a future climate. In Oak Park, our main activity was to get familiar with the IBP  assessment. We received the training from Laurent and Pierre, who introduced the field guidelines before splitting us into groups. By walking and observing along transects, we worked through the 10 factors, including, e.g. native tree species, vertical stand structure, deadwood, and tree-related microhabitats.  In the debrief, we discussed the group’s results, and all agreed that the IBP is a useful diagnostic tool to inform management on what works well and where there’s room for improvement, on which factors it is doing well and where to improve if possible. With that, a long but fruitful excursion and discussion day ended.

A Leap in Time

Day three shifted focus from river-side collaborations and diagnostic tools to experiences of CCF pioneers, where experimentation, resilience, and long-term commitment shape both wood and woodland culture.  We visited a forest owner who had engaged in the process of converting a Sitka Spruce plantation to CCF.  The forest site in Ballycullen was established in 1996, with the help of afforestation grants. At the first thinning stage, the forest owner (Sandra and Lasse Jorgenson) reached out to Ian Short (Teagasc). Ian set up a research plot for recording the transition process. We started off in a low thinning plot, where it was quite dark, with little vertical structure. As we moved to the Gradual Density Thinning plot, we were able to observe a lighter structure, as well as variety in diameter classes. With enhanced microclimates and improved light conditions, the scene was set for natural regeneration. However, we could observe –in a fenced control area for monitoring browsing–that, similar to other countries, the challenge lies in regulating deer populations to ensure proper regeneration. Despite the browsing discussion, all participants congratulated the owner for taking on the challenge towards CCF.

We then took a leap in time and arrived in Ashford, Cloragh forest, where we visited a well-developed CCF forest with diverse structure, regeneration, and large Sitka spruce trees. We were guided by Liam Byrne (Pro Silva Ireland), whom I experienced in the ForestMOOCforchange with a feature on Cloragh forest. I was thrilled to see the forest now in person. The forest is owned by Lucy and her family, and Liam supports the management. ed much appreciation and respect for. Within these stands, the quality for both ecology and economics is being checked, as it is a forest delivering valuable timber products and diverse ecosystem services. This forest is, for good reason, seen as a pioneer example for CCF adoption in Ireland – something participants show. As the meeting ended, we got to enjoy a surprise lunch at a Viking film set, nestled in the forest. Through the key hand-over, the chairmanship officially transferred to Hungary, promising a new thematic context addressing the impacts of drought, heat and invasive species on forest resilience.

We thank our Irish chairs very much for a memorable Integrate Network Annual Meeting! Time to look forward to a fruitful and engaging new year – with the network’s 10-year anniversary and Hungarian chairmanship upcoming in 2026!

Text: Silvester Boonen, Andreas Schuck, and Rahel Könen
Pictures: Silvester Boonen, and Rahel Könen
Video footage: Rahel Könen
Video production: Raghav Sharma

A recently published article examines how rising climate uncertainty is reshaping forest management and underscores the crucial role of tree species diversity in building resilient forest ecosystems. Here, Prof. Dr. Andreas Rigling and Dr. Valentina Vitali explain that diverse forests are better equipped to cope with intensifying stressors – including droughts, heatwaves, pests, storms, and shifting seasonal patterns – while continuing to provide essential ecological, economic, and social functions.

The authors highlight that integrating species diversity into forest management offers both immediate and long-term benefits: it increases resistance to disturbance, enhances productivity and stability, and reduces the risk of large-scale forest failure. As part of this broader shift, the article points to ongoing international efforts to guide adaptive management, including the role of the Integrate Network. The network is mentioned as an important platform for evidence-based discussions on integrative forest management and close-to-nature forestry, enabling dialogue between practitioners, policymakers, and scientists to develop differentiated, sustainable management solutions.

By emphasising both scientific insights and practical strategies, the article reinforces the need for forest managers to adopt integrated, species-rich approaches that can support ecosystem resilience for future generations.

This summary also relates to the following publication: Rigling A, Vitali V (2025) Forest management in an uncertain future: The role of tree diversity. Open Access Government. Oct. 2025, pp. 390–391.

Across Europe, forests are expected to do more than ever: protect wildlife, cope with climate change, provide many benefits to people, and stay healthy in a rapidly changing environment. Meeting all these demands means working with the natural complexity of forests rather than trying to simplify it.

In the TRANSFORMIT project, Integrative Forest Management (IFM) is understood as a way of managing forests that brings together biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation, while still allowing forests to provide a wide range of ecosystem services. IFM takes inspiration from natural forest structures and processes and is applied at different scales – from individual trees to whole landscapes. It also uses a mix of management levels, including places that are intentionally left unmanaged, to help forests function well and remain resilient.

Turning this vision into practice, however, demands something essential: a way to measure progress, monitor outcomes, and report results consistently across regions and policy levels. This is where the TRANSFORMIT project’s 17 indicators come in. 

A management approach built for a changing world 

IFM moves beyond single-objective forestry. It recognises forests as dynamic systems whose resilience depends on forest’s diversity (e.g. mix of tree, shrub, and wildlife species), structural complexity (e.g. layered canopies and fallen logs that create varied habitats), and natural processes (e.g. decay, nutrient recycling, and natural regeneration after disturbance). By weaving together ecological and social perspectives, IFM aims to balance the provision of wood and non-wood products with biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, water regulation, and climate adaptation. 

Yet even a well-defined concept must be made operational. Without measurable indicators, IFM risks remaining an ambition rather than shaping real decision-making. 

From 80 candidates to 17 key indicators: A collaborative journey 

Developing the indicator system began with a broad exploration of around 80 potential indicators identified through international frameworks, earlier projects, and existing certification schemes. But selecting the right ones required local knowledge and hands-on experience. 

Across seven Living Labs, stakeholders – from forest managers to policymakers, researchers, conservationists, and community representatives – worked together in iterative workshops. They debated feasibility, relevance, trade-offs, regional differences and thresholds. Through this multi-stage, co-creative process, the long list steadily refined into a focused set of 17 meaningful, measurable, and usable indicators. These indicators reflect not just scientific priorities, but the day-to-day realities of forest management across Europe. 

Indicators designed for practice and policy 

Each IFM indicator we finally agreed upon is supported by a detailed factsheet explaining its rationale, characteristics, and relevance. The factsheets outline measurement units at stand and national levels, point to data sources, identify targets and thresholds, and highlight potential trade-offs or regional considerations. 

This ensures the indicators are not just theoretically robust but rather operational tools that forestry professionals can use in practice. 

The system also stands out for its integration and scalability. Together, the indicators address ecosystem services, biodiversity, resilience, and climate adaptation while aligning directly with major policy frameworks including the EU Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy, and the New EU Forest Strategy 2030. This alignment strengthens dialogue between practitioners on the ground and policymakers, shaping Europe’s environmental agenda. 

Looking ahead: Indicators for the future 

The role of the indicators does not end with monitoring. In the next phase of TRANSFORMIT, they will feed into Decision Support Tools, modelling approaches, and interactive digital twins of forests. This means the indicators will become more than descriptive. They allow managers to explore scenarios, weigh decisions, and plan for climate and biodiversity challenges, and help to further bridge the gap between understanding the present and shaping a resilient future. 

Why the co-creation process matters 

The strength of this indicator system lies not only in its technical design but in how it was created. By embedding stakeholder participation throughout and grounding the work in seven real-world Living Labs across Europe, the indicators reflect practical constraints, local priorities, and diverse ecological conditions. 

This approach builds trust, relevance, and ownership, which are key ingredients for successful implementation across regions and management intensities. 

The backbone of Integrative Forest Management 

These 17 indicators form a shared foundation for understanding whether IFM measures are achieving their aims. They offer transparency, support evidence-based decision making, and provide a common reference for both local action and European-level reporting. Most importantly, they offer a reliable way to connect policy ambitions with on-the-ground practice. They form the backbone of Integrative Forest Management: Measurable. Meaningful. Mission-driven. 

And they help ensure that the forests supporting our societies today remain resilient, diverse, and full of biodiversity for generations to come. 

If you’d like to explore the indicators in detail, TRANSFORMIT project’s website hosts all 17 factsheets in an accessible, practical format. 

At the heart of the project lies the common birch (Betula pendula) – a pioneer tree species often underestimated in forestry but crucial for the ecological resilience of mixed forests. Through the PlanBirke app and “citizen laboratories” in the Ruhr area, South Brandenburg and North Saxony, volunteers contributed valuable field data on carbon storage, water dynamics, and biodiversity, helping researchers understand how birch forests respond to drought and climate stress.

The European Forest Institute (EFI) supported the project through the Integrate Network by establishing two Marteloscope sites in Gelsenkirchen – in the Industriewald Rheinelbe and Naturwald Gelsenkirchen. These living forest classrooms provided unique opportunities to simulate forest management decisions and assess their ecological outcomes also to the PlanBirke project.

Further information on the Citizen Science Award can be found via the organizers’ Website , LinkedIN, Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram (in German).

Featured image:  Pilze Birke Holzbewohnende – Kostenloses Foto auf Pixabay

Minister Michael Healy-Rae opens the 11th Integrate Network Annual Meeting chaired jointly by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Teagasc

Michael Healy-Rae TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine delivered a warm welcome address to mark the beginning of the 11th Integrate Network Annual Meeting that took place in Dublin this month.

The Integrate Network promotes the use of forest biodiversity and integrated management for forest resilience, productivity and the safeguarding of ecosystem services essential to society wellbeing. It aims to serve as an important discussion and facilitation space between forestry research, practice, and policy across Europe.

Currently the Integrate Network has 13 members, the EU Commission as observer, and a network of over 240 forest demonstration sites. Ireland is the current chair of the Network with Dermot Dunphy (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and Jonathan Spazzi (Teagasc) acting as joint chairs on behalf of our country.

Minister Healey-Rae said: “All across Europe we are experiencing the effects of climate change, from wildfires to bark beetle in central Europe and, here in Ireland, the effects of windstorms. Making our forests more resilient to these challenges is vitally important. Interactions with organisations such as the Integrate Network provide important insights that can shape future forestry support programmes.”

Delegates participating in the meeting also travelled to visit the forest at the Teagasc National Research Centre in Oak Park, Carlow where they visited the local marteloscope in-forest training facility, designed for forest owners, and attended a hands-on workshop on a new forest biodiversity survey methodology.

Here they met Director of Teagasc, Professor Frank O’Mara who delivered a warm welcome address to the group and noted: “Teagasc are delighted to co-chair the Integrate Network with DAFM and host the 11th Integrate Network Annual Meeting. Irish forestry is still at a relatively early development stage, but it is rapidly evolving and diversifying with forest owners anxious to learn how to manage their forests sustainably into the future. This meeting is a fantastic opportunity to bring different approaches together, and to share experiences and knowledge on the benefits of Integrated management for mutual benefits.”

Tom Houlihan, acting Head of the Teagasc Foresty Development Department said: “The theme of this meeting “Promoting Multifunctional/Integrative Forest Management Practices in Managed Forests through Policy, Science and Practice” is particularly relevant as we plan for multipurpose and diverse forests which will contributes economically, environmentally and socially, both for the national forest estate, but also for each individual forest owner”

Jonathan Spazzi, Teagasc Forestry Development Department who co-ordinated this event jointly with Dermot Dunphy, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, explained:

“Ireland took the chair of the Network following from Austria’s excellent work in 2024 where we started to focus on private forest owner’s experience. This focus has continued throughout this year, and we were very pleased to be able to include a number of private forest owners to actively participate to the 11th Integrate Network Annual Meeting and join in the discussion with researchers, educators, practitioners and policy makers.”

Dermot Dunphy added: “If we look across Europe today, we find forests are under unprecedented pressures. This is precisely why the Integrate Network exists to help to find balance, evidence-based approaches towards forest management solutions that integrate biodiversity, resilience and multi-functionality at the forest level but also at the landscape, country and European scale.”

More information on the Integrate European Network and on the marteloscope training resource in Teagasc Oak Park forest.

Among the many productive sessions and exchanges, one captured the collaborative spirit of the gathering – an interactive World Café. This participatory method invites people to rotate between small discussion tables, sharing perspectives and building on one another’s ideas as they go. It turns a meeting into a living dialogue, where every voice adds a piece to the bigger picture.

We had five tables, three questions, and one goal: to reflect together on why IFM is needed, what barriers stand in the way of its wider adoption, and how collaboration can help drive progress.

Why – The roots of resilience

When the first question was asked – Why do we apply integrative forest management? – the answer came as a series of insights that rooted back to one word: resilience.

Participants spoke of forests that must endure uncertainty – storms, pests, changing climates, and shifting societal expectations. To strengthen resilience, they agreed, is to ensure that forests can provide multiple goods and services – timber, biodiversity, recreation, clean water – without losing their vitality.

One participant captured it simply: “It’s about balancing production with diversity and all the other ecosystem services society depends on.” Another added that IFM is “a means of compromise” – between societal interests, biodiversity conservation, and the needs of forest owners.

Stories emerged from practice too. A forest owner had started planting oak, “just to do something different,” his peers recounted. This small spark of curiosity became a symbol of innovation – a forest that is more diverse and resilient. It showed how change often begins quietly, with one decision that ripples outward.

And as others noted, IFM is also an act of education: “It’s not just on paper. Everybody can see how it looks outside in the forest.”

What – Between vision and reality

As the conversation turned to practice, the tone grew more grounded. Implementing IFM, the groups agreed, is demanding, held back by limited training, a shortage of skilled contractors, and insufficient financial incentives. The forestry systems in many countries are still “set up for big machines,” which makes closer-to-nature approaches harder to apply. Some raised issues like deer pressure, fragmented ownership, or the need to better adapt IFM to regional contexts where conditions and traditions differ.

“Integrative forest management is more complex to manage,” as the conversation went. “There are more things you have to take into account – and for that reason it’s more costly.”

Yet behind each challenge lies persistence. In smaller forests where hiring a professional was unaffordable, owners learned by doing, guided by peer exchange and shared experience. Participants also discussed the importance of valuing the benefits of IFM – not just timber, but carbon, water, biodiversity, and the social value of healthy forests.

How – Growing together

The final question – How can we collaborate better? – explored the potential of working side by side to support a widespread adoption of IFM.

Forest demonstrations and peer learning were seen as powerful catalysts for change. “If one forest owner plants differently, a neighbour might follow. It takes one person to break the ice,” as one reflection captured.

The conversation grew into a reflection on networks – the need for “champions” who inspire others, and for meetings that bring people together not just professionally, but as a community. Collaboration, participants noted, requires translation – not just between countries and professions, but also for society. “Foresters talk to each other in the same language,” one participant observed. “But society needs to understand us too so that we can show improvements and gain acceptance.”

Inclusion was another key theme: being mindful of local customs, power dynamics, and the ways policies align across EU and national levels. The discussion closed with a clear takeaway: investing in collaboration and education today builds resilience and understanding for tomorrow, avoiding the higher costs of restoration later.

A living conversation

The World Café in Dublin ended with a sense of shared direction. “Why Integrative Forest Management?” one participant reflected aloud. “Because we can. Because it’s possible – and our skills keep growing. We can do it, and that’s exactly why we do it.”

This message lingered in the room long after the discussions ended – as an affirmation of what unites the Integrate Network: the belief that forests, like communities, grow stronger through diversity, dialogue, and care.

And in that shared space – between the forest and the meeting room, between policy and practice – something continued to grow: understanding, trust, and the quiet confidence that IFM remains a living practice, strengthened by dialogue, tested by challenges, and carried forward together.

How can genuine dialogue about forests succeed? 

This question stood at the beginning of the Martelkom project and became the starting point for its new guide “Forest Dialogues”, developed at the European Forest Institute (EFI) together with colleagues from the Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg (FVA).

The debate about the future of our forests is no longer purely technical. Climate change, nature conservation, timber production, and recreation – all play a part in forest management in Germany. Yet both citizens and forestry professionals often feel that their concerns are not fully understood. Foresters, as representatives of forest management, are also mediators between their profession and a society that increasingly demands participation and wants its views to be heard.

But how can such a dialogue about the future of Germany’s forests take place – at a time when traditional answers are losing persuasive power and new approaches are being discussed controversially? This very question led the Martelkom project team to seek dialogue where it can truly emerge: in the forest itself. They wanted to find out how encounters evolve when conversations take place directly among the trees and different perspectives meet face to face.

Marteloscopes: Encounter and exchange directly in the forest 

To do so, they used so-called marteloscopes (designated training plots in the forest where management decisions can be simulated in real-life conditions). These marteloscopes are part of a growing network of around 280 sites coordinated by the Integrate Network. Here, what often sounds abstract becomes tangible. A wide range of participants – pupils, citizens, environmental activists, and of course local foresters – were invited. Together, they met in the forest, discussed trees, decisions, and responsibility – sometimes thoughtfully, sometimes passionately. These encounters were accompanied by social-scientific observations and group discussions. A nationwide representative survey provided additional valuable insights: How do people in Germany perceive the forest? How do they experience their interactions with foresters?

And behind it all, a series of guiding questions continued to drive the work: How is the forest perceived? What matters most to people concerning forests? What happens when people with different values and viewpoints stand together in front of a tree and discuss its future? And how can professional knowledge and personal experience, expertise and emotion, come together in genuine dialogue?

Even the first forest exercises showed how lively this approach can be: “The marteloscope exercises allowed us to spend several days in the forest, listening, observing, and talking directly with people,” recalls Theresa Frei, who led the project together with colleagues from the FVA Baden-Württemberg. “It was fascinating to see how quickly discussions about individual trees turned into deeply personal conversations – about childhood memories, worries about climate change, or the use of wood products. And about the question of how we can take responsibility together,” adds Hannah Ertelt, research associate in the project team.

The path was not always easy. Because the goal was to reach very different groups, the team found it challenging to get enough participants from specific target audiences for the marteloscope sessions. The more specific the group, the smaller the turnout – while broad public invitations mainly attracted those already interested in forests and the environment. One key challenge remains: how to engage social groups that rarely come into contact with forest management at all.

And yet, the enthusiasm of those who did participate was unmistakable. After only a few minutes, there was a special energy in the air: openness, curiosity, and genuine interest in the forest. Again, fascinating conversations arose, filled with laughter, debate, and reflection. Some participants were so inspired that they asked whether they could organize their own marteloscope sessions. That was a strong signal: the approach works. The forest, and especially the marteloscopes, can become true spaces of encounter where open and honest exchange is possible.

Foresters and citizens in conversation 

When the results from the surveys and discussions were evaluated, the initial feeling was confirmed: people want to understand what drives foresters. They want to comprehend the uncertainties that climate change brings, and how disturbances such as bark beetles, storms, or wildfires influence management decisions. They are curious to know how decisions are made – which trees stay and which must go.

The participating foresters, in turn, appreciated the chance to talk about their work beyond professional circles and to hear citizens’ views and reflections. When professionals can openly share that they, too, are learning, experimenting, and searching for ways to make our future forests more resilient, it creates space for genuine listening and mutual understanding.

All this led the project to its goal: to develop a practical guide that facilitates exactly that: real encounters in the forest.

Guideline “Forest Dialogues” – practical tips for successful dialogues 

The practical guide “Forest Dialogues” is not a thick final report to be opened once and set aside. It is a hands-on tool for practice: easy to use, clearly structured, with concrete steps, a checklist, and reflection questions designed to inspire conversation.

It is aimed primarily at foresters who wish to see the forest as a space for dialogue – whether they are private forest owners, municipal or state foresters. However, it can also be used by educational professionals, ideally in cooperation with forestry experts.

In the guide, readers will find advice on how to prepare and moderate marteloscope sessions, how to reach suitable participant groups, and how to shape discussions that spark curiosity rather than conflict. It also invites reflection on one’s own relationship with the forest: What does the forest mean to me personally? How do I feel about its changes? And how can I share these thoughts and emotions in conversation with others?

Perhaps this is the most important insight of the project: sharing uncertainties and open questions is deeply human. And this creates trust – the foundation for honest communication.

The forest offers the ideal setting for that. It makes forest management visible, tangible, and discussable. At the same time, it provides calm, reflection, and connection – a living space that encourages openness and clarity, where people can truly meet, even on controversial topics. In this way, the forest becomes a place for genuine exchange and shared learning.

The guide is therefore more than just a result – it is a beginning. An invitation to listen, to learn together, and to take new paths. For the future of our forests, and for better understanding among all who use, protect, preserve, or simply love them in their own way.

“Forest Dialogues” can now be downloaded free of charge as a PDF and printed if needed – available in both Englisch and German.

Take it with you into the forest, try it out, and start your own conversation under the trees.

Martelkom is a joint research project of the European Forest Institute (EFI) and the Forest Research Institute of Baden-Württemberg (FVA). Its goal is to bring together different societal needs regarding forests and sustainable forest management and to support communication on these topics. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Regional Identity (BMELH) through the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) based on a resolution of the German Bundestag.

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!