ForChange: Forest ecosystem management under global change
The group deals with the management of Southern European Atlantic and Mediterranean forests, encompassing a variety of ecosystems ranging from intensive forest plantations for timber production to coastal dunes stabilization forests, and agroforestry systems. The key objectives of the research group is the development of new models, methods and decision systems to effectively integrate currently fragmented multidisciplinary knowledge for enhanced Atlantic and Mediterranean forest ecosystem management.
ForChange has strong collaboration with similar research groups in other parts of the world as highlighted by its participation/coordination in several EU projects and COST Actions, including projects with non-European partners. Group members are also strongly involved with international research networks such as: International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) and European Forest Institute (EFI) (namely (EFIATLANTIC and EFIMED regional offices). Research is undertaken in close cooperation with Portuguese stakeholders (e.g. Forest Service, landowner associations, SMEs and industry).
