On 14–15 October 2026, more than 40 forestry professionals from European countries gathered in Farnham, Surrey, for the FORADVISE International Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Forest Protection.Hosted by Forest Research and the Forestry Commission, the two-day event combined presentations, interactive discussions and a visit to Alice Holt Research Station.
Through examples from across Europe, participants examined practical approaches to adaptation, forest protection and more proactive risk management.
Exchanging experiences across Europe
The first day, held at the Bush Hotel in Farnham, opened with a welcome from the hosts and an introduction to the workshop. A keynote by Marcus Lindner of the European Forest Institute addressed the connections between science, policy and practice, focusing on proactive, integrated risk management across Europe.
Further presentations explored the links between climate change, pests and diseases, and adaptive forest management. Short case study presentations and round-table discussions gave participants the opportunity to compare experiences from different countries and consider how approaches could be adapted to their own contexts.
Tools and approaches to support forest advisors
Decision support tools were another focus of the programme. Presentations introduced ForestGALES, which supports the assessment of wind damage risk, and ClimEssences, a tool that helps inform consideration of tree species under changing climatic conditions.
A session on contingency planning used beech leaf disease as a case study, followed by a discussion on preparedness at European level. The programme also included updates on FORADVISE’s Knowledge Transfer Pilots and the FOREXT Fridays webinar series on climate change and forest protection, connecting the workshop with further opportunities for learning and exchange.
Connecting research with practice at Alice Holt
On the second day, participants visited Alice Holt Research Station, where the programme combined poster sessions and short presentations with visits to the taxonomy laboratory and the Adaptation Trail.
These activities provided a practical setting for exploring forest protection research and adaptation approaches, while continuing conversations between advisors, researchers and forestry professionals.
The Farnham workshop formed part of FORADVISE’s work to strengthen forest advisory services across Europe. By bringing together experience from different countries and connecting scientific knowledge with practical tools, the event supported the exchange that advisors need to help forest owners and managers respond to a changing climate.
