This report presents a comprehensive analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data collected from case study areas (CSAs) within the OptFor-EU project, focusing on stakeholders’ perceptions regarding climate change (CC), forest management practices (FMP), and policy and governance barriers.
The report is organised in the following sections: Section 1 provides an introduction, while Section 2 outlines the objectives and anticipated impact. Section 3 details the qualitative and quantitative methodologies employed to ascertain stakeholders’ needs, requirements, expectations, as well as the threats and challenges to enhancing forest-based carbon removals. Section 4 elaborates on the stakeholder engagement process across the CSAs, utilizing methods such as workshops, expert surveys, and qualitative interviews to gather perceptions on CC and the interaction between climate and FMP as well as threats and challenges for increased forest-based carbon removals. Section 5 discusses the key findings from the stakeholder engagement process regarding their perceptions of CC and FMP in each CSA. Sections 6 and 7 identify policy and governance factors that hinder increased carbon sequestration from forests, highlighting contextual factors and opportunities for policy support for CC mitigation actions, as well as the barriers to their implementation at European, national, and regional levels.
The analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data reveals that most stakeholders believe their organizations’ institutional frameworks align well with current climate mitigation goals. However, they emphasize the need for increased resources and funding for climate mitigation efforts. Regarding FMP, stakeholders prioritize forestry management knowledge and consider information on forest management crucial for their institutions. Additionally, they highlight the importance of enhancing forest resilience through biodiversity and strategies that boost forest carbon sinks. Key threats and challenges identified by stakeholders include language barriers, data validity, accessibility and variability across countries, economic and financial constraints, governance and policy issues, social and cultural barriers, and the need for greater awareness and education about the importance of climate protection in forestry.