INTERREG-SUDOE Thrive Project: Innovation in hardwood for rural activation and climate resilience

The SUDOE area comprises 22.2 million hectares of forest, containing species from the genera Eucalyptus, Quercus, Fagus, Castanea, Fraxinus, and Populus, which have experienced significant growth in recent decades. This growth has occurred in some areas without adequate forest management, as a consequence of abandonment due to population migration to large urban centers. This is a problem that affects all three territories.

These stands are of particular importance because they can allow for the discontinuity of coniferous forests, which is itself an attractive factor in terms of climate change mitigation, increased biodiversity, and reduced fire risk. These species possess interesting physical and mechanical properties, allowing their transformation into high-quality products for use in construction solutions. THRIVE will ensure the mapping of the hardwood sector, the economic valorization of timber resources through the classification of construction-related products, and the promotion and implementation of architectural solutions using hardwood (SUDOE area).

This project will improve the resilience of the entire region to climate change and its consequences through the implementation and dissemination of forestry practices. These are essential problems that extend throughout the SUDOE area, and their solutions stem from the transnational cooperation established in this project, benefiting all the regions involved equally.