Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
FORWARDS is a project funded by the European Union that will prototype the Forest-Ward Observatory, a pan-European monitoring and evaluation system that will help assess how European forests respond to the impacts of climate change. It will document current restoration activities concerning forests, biodiversity, carbon, and soils, and explore various restoration options to guide decision-making processes towards climate-smart forest management. One of the aims of the FORWARDS project is to engage and empower citizens and stakeholders in the co-creation of solutions that will support the future of forests amidst climate change challenges.
Detailed Call Description
In line with this goal, this grant call seeks to foster the development of inclusive initiatives that encourage the participation of citizens and stakeholders in decision-making processes for Climate Smart Forestry (CSF) and forest restoration at the forest management or policy level. Specifically, it aims to strengthen participatory governance by supporting the creation of structures and processes that actively involve citizens and stakeholders in the development of forest management and restoration strategies-on forest holdings or at governance levels.
This call will support activities that employ various levels of societal engagement ranging from local community initiatives to larger regional or national programmes in Europe. Supported projects and activities will either complement existing, or implement new, social engagement activities in the context of Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) or forest restoration FORWARDS is a Horizon Europe project that will prototype the Forest-Ward Observatory, a pan-European monitoring and evaluation tool that will help demonstrate the impact of climate change on forests and guide decision-making for practical forest management.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The maximum grant value is €24.750.
It is expected that up to 5 projects will be funded under this call (max 4 lots). These may build on previous activities and may be co-financed with own or other sources, but double financing of the same activities is not allowed. Retroactive funding is also not allowed, meaning that a grant may not fund activities that have already been completed.
Projects may start by January/February 2026 at the earliest, with an implementation period of up to 18 months.
Thematic Categories
- Agriculture - Farming - Forestry
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Farmers Unions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Applications can be submitted by one legal entity or a consortium of legal entities. Applicants must, meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the grant:
- Applicant is a legal entity (legal person). If the application is submitted by a consortium (grouping of legal persons represented by a coordinator), this criterion applies to all the participants. This call is not open for applications from natural persons.
- Applicant eligible for funding under the European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. If the application is submitted by a consortium, this criterion applies to all the participants.
To ensure that all European regions are covered, proposals must choose one of the following three European regions (lots), which follow country groups defined by Forest Europe in its State of Europe’s Forests reports: 1. North Europe 2. Central Europe 3. South Europe.