The final event of the LIFE ADAPT-ALEPPO project, held on 2 July at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) in Madrid, aimed to present the project’s results on adapting Aleppo pine forests to climate change.
The symposium concluded this ambitious European project, which since 2021 has designed and applied adaptive management tools to strengthen the resilience of Pinus halepensis forests against climate change impacts and forest decline.
During the day, results and lessons from four years of fieldwork were shared, including pilot actions across more than 100 hectares in Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Aragón and Valencia. Innovative strategies tested included eco-hydrological silviculture, structural diversification, post-fire restoration and assisted species migration.
Beyond project results, the symposium highlighted other Mediterranean experiences, addressing challenges such as rising temperatures, recurrent droughts and extreme events. Sessions featured round tables and expert presentations on forest management, climate change and adaptation policies.
The project also produced decision-support tools such as habitat suitability maps, an interactive viewer, and six technical guides for managers and policymakers, freely available at https://adaptaleppo.eu/.
The event, accessible both onsite and online, showcased collaboration between administrations, research centres and managers, reinforcing the commitment to active conservation and adaptation of forests to a changing climate.https://adaptaleppo.eu/
Presentations delivered included:
“Welcome and introduction”: Esteban Jordán, IDEN, and Ms María Torres-Quevedo, Deputy Assistant Director of Forest Policy and Desertification Control, MITECO. https://youtu.be/gjDl0dcFF4I
- “Monitoring forest health and decline with field observations and new technologies” (Jose Luis Tomé, AGRESTA). https://youtu.be/EBFB7Kom0P0
- “Assisted migration results in forest restoration” (Lourdes Vicente, IDEN). https://youtu.be/6r1I8rCZc60
- “Eco-hydrological silviculture to improve forest water balance” (Laura Blanco, UPV). https://youtu.be/3jY1iEz0l9I
- “Structural and floristic diversification for resilience and adaptation” (Aitor Ameztegui, UDL). https://youtu.be/AjXkNmvODeA
- “Post-fire management of Aleppo pine forests” (Daniel Moya, UCLM). https://youtu.be/II1oG3IUcPk
- “Vulnerability Index from LIFE Red Bosques Clima project” (Jordi Vayreda, CREAF). https://youtu.be/aUcg2zZL9bY
- “When the Forest Cries: Decline of Murcian pine forests” (Mª Teresa Campo, Region of Murcia). https://youtu.be/wh7YIcBmN-U
- “Reactivating Aragón’s Aleppo pine forests: innovation in management” (Marco Lorenzo, Aragón Government). https://youtu.be/rJtIt3Txvpw
- “The role of forest engineering in adaptive management” (Mª Eugenia Oliver, COITF).
- Round table: Esteban Jordán, Jose Luis Tomé, Jordi Vayreda, Mª Teresa Campo, Marco Lorenzo, Mª Eugenia Oliver. Moderator: Miguel Chamón. https://youtu.be/j91FOlKxBJ8
- For updates and resources, visit https://adaptaleppo.eu/ and follow @adaptaleppo.
https://adaptaleppo.eu/ @adaptaleppo
