EU Researchers Collaborate on Forest Management in Romania

Forests play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, regulating climate, purifying air and water, and benefiting both local communities and economies around the world. In Canada, forests constitute nearly a tenth of the world's total and are crucial for both wildlife and the national economy, while in Europe, initiatives like OptFor-EU focus on protecting untouched old-growth forests and using innovative research to inform sustainable management. Global warming poses a significant threat to forests, with historical evidence from the Kutch Basin indicating that warming can disrupt rainforest composition and the hydrological cycle, undermining their ability to sequester carbon and protect coastal communities. In the United States, recent political decisions have stalled efforts to expand federal protections for old-growth forests, with tools like the Congressional Review Act enabling rapid reversal of conservation policies in favor of logging interests. Experts warn that depletion or mismanagement of forests not only accelerates climate change but also jeopardizes critical ecosystem services essential for human health and well-being. The consensus across regions is that protecting forests is imperative for mitigating climate change and ensuring long-term environmental and societal resilience.