LIFE Project: Nature-based solutions to improve forest adaptation to climate change

Forests are one of the ecosystems most sensitive to climate change. They are also one of the most important ecosystems in Europe, due to their size (the EU's forest area covers around 42% of its territory), their diversity, their significant economic importance, and the wide range of ecosystem services they provide, including their important role in CO2 sequestration. Spain has almost 28 million hectares of forest (almost 55% of the national territory), with 27 different types of forest habitats of Community interest.

Although European forest area has increased in recent decades, their situation remains very fragile. The assessment report on the conservation status of habitats and species under the Habitats Directive 2013-2018 (Article 17) indicates that 95% of forest habitats of Community interest in Spain have an unfavorable conservation status, compared to 78% in Europe. The same report identifies inadequate forest management as the main factor of pressure and threat to Spanish and European forest habitats.