Forests and soils in Europe are changing rapidly. Extreme wildfires, pest outbreaks in new regions, longer droughts, and land-use change are occurring more frequently.
In addition, land managers have the challenge to protect biodiversity and store carbon while remaining economically viable. Adapting to this reality requires people who can translate knowledge into practice. This is where advisors play an important role.
Forest advisors and soil advisors act as connectors between research, policy and on-the-ground action. Two European projects illustrate how this transformation is already underway.
Why advisory services matter
Advisory services have a key role in giving the tools and assisting foresters and farmers to make informed decisions and add value to land management. FORADVISE and NBSOIL are supporting advisors with this challenge.
FORADVISE project, is focused on expanding forest advisory networks across Europe. This Horizon Europe project aims to modernise forestry advisory services by empowering them through digital tools, training modules, and peer-to-peer collaboration.
Check out how the FORADVISE network serves as a bridging framework, connecting forestry advisory organisations, professionals, and networks at local, national, and EU levels:
NBSOIL (Nature-Based Solutions for Soil Management) aims to develop a learning pathway for soil advisors. It develops a blended learning programme with six multifunctional practices to test them as nature-based solutions (NBS) and to develop a holistic approach to land management and soil health. These include practices such as organic fertilisers, cover crops, paludiculture, forest diversification and bioremediation.
Forest diversification is the practice of managing forests to increase their biodiversity. Check out how NBSOIL is increasing forest diversification to improve soil health in Europe:
Find more about the other five multifunctional practices here.
Learn more:
Together, these projects highlight a growing recognition: resilient forests depend on healthy soils, and sustainable land management depends on land managers who are prepared for the challenges ahead.
