Conference "Managed forests for a resilient territory" to be held in Bilbao on 19 and 20 november

12 / 10 / 2026

The Provincial Council of Bizkaia will host the international conference “Managed forests for a resilient territory” on 19 and 20 november at Bizkaia Aretoa in Bilbao. Coordinated by USSE and EHU (University of the Basque Country), the event will bring together representatives of European institutions, national and regional authorities, research organisations, forest owners, professionals and stakeholders from across the forest-based sector.

Forests are playing an increasingly important role in Europe's response to climate change, biodiversity conservation and rural development. At the same time, forest owners, managers and public authorities face growing challenges, including wildfires, pests, market uncertainty and the need to keep rural communities alive and thriving. The decisions they make will largely determine the resilience of Europe's forests.

Against this backdrop, the conference aims to:

• Discuss how developments in the European policy framework can better support resilient forests and rural communities.
• Exchange experiences on active and sustainable forest management as a key tool for adapting to climate change.
• Explore innovative financing mechanisms to encourage long-term investment in forest resilience.
• Strengthen cooperation between policymakers, researchers and professionals to accelerate the implementation of effective solutions.

Bizkaia has been chosen as the host location in recognition of its own distinctive forestry landscape: forests cover more than 58% of its territory and play a strategic role in its economy, environment and rural development. Furthermore, the recent approval of the new Provincial Forestry Regulation provides a particularly relevant context for discussing how modern forest governance can help build more resilient landscapes.

The conference is built around a simple idea: Europe's forests are managed locally. The event aims to demonstrate how local action can contribute to achieving European objectives while ensuring that European policies remain closely connected to the realities of the territories in which they are implemented.

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