EU-Australia Region-to-Region: Pilot Action on Forest Water Resilience and Climate Adaptation

The IURC CoP for a Resilient Agri-food Industry & Forestry Community of Practice (CoP) continues to strengthen international collaboration on climate resilience, with a meeting on 18 March 2026 bringing together experts from Australia and Germany to address one of the most pressing challenges facing forests today: water stress and climate-induced die-off. The subgroup discussed a potential pilot action involving forestry experts from both countries, with the possibility of other CoP members joining.

Pilot Action: A Shared Indicators System for Climate-Resilient Forests

Forest experts from Australia and Germany explored how to develop a practical, science-based indicator system to better predict and prevent forest decline. Central to the discussion was the need to move beyond reactive responses and instead enable early detection and proactive forest management.

The group highlighted the importance of combining:

• Soil depth and structure analysis
• Hydrological monitoring and water retention data
• Vegetation stress indicators and physiological measurements

This integrated approach aims to support forest managers in identifying vulnerable areas and adapting management strategies before severe impacts occur.

Bridging Science and Practice

A key outcome of the discussion was the strong emphasis on ensuring that research outputs translate into practical tools for industry use. Experts stressed that indicator systems must strike the right balance between scientific accuracy and usability for forest owners and practitioners.

Innovative ideas included:

• Combining soil depth data with climate wetness indices (rainfall vs. evaporation)
• Using early warning indicators for fire risk and ecosystem stress
• Developing regionally adaptable frameworks that can be applied across different forest types

This collaborative effort builds on ongoing research in Europe and Australia, including work on forest stand vulnerability, soil mapping, and ecosystem water regulation.

Strengthening International Cooperation

The meeting reinforced the value of cross-regional collaboration, with participants identifying opportunities to:

• Align research and data across continents
• Share knowledge from initiatives such as EU forest adaptation programmes
• Engage additional stakeholders, including private sector actors

A shared IURC cloud workspace has been established to facilitate ongoing exchange, alongside plans for a webinar series starting in April to align regional priorities and deepen technical discussions.

Next Steps

To maintain momentum, the group agreed on several concrete actions:

• Development of a draft indicator system document for collective input
• Organisation of a technical webinar in the coming weeks
• Planning of in-person exchanges in Europe (summer) and Australia (October)
• Involve further CoP members from France, Greece and Poland in the forestry cooperation

These steps will help advance a Regional Cooperation Action Plan (RCAP) focused on delivering tangible outcomes for forest resilience and climate adaptation.

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Participants and Way Forward

The meeting brought together experts from research institutions, public authorities, and industry across Australia and Europe:

• Charles Jenkinson – Regional Development Australia South West (Australia)
• Andrew Lyon – Forest Products Commission, Western Australia (Australia)
• Brad Barr – Wespine Industries (Australia)
• Wendy Perdon – South West Timber Hub (Australia)
• Dr Katinka Ruthrof – Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Western Australia (Australia)
• Dr Joe Fontaine – Murdoch University (Australia)
• Kerstin Schmitt – City of Trier (Germany)
• Eva Verena Müller – Research Institute for Forest Ecology and Forestry, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany)
• Bruce Wilson – IURC
• Pablo Gándara – IURC

Participants agreed on a structured pathway to move from concept development to practical implementation. At the core of the next phase is the co-development of a shared indicator system for forest water stress and climate resilience. This will begin with a draft framework led by Dr Eva Verena Müller, which will bring together existing research on soil water availability, vegetation stress, and hydrological dynamics. The document will serve as a living reference, inviting contributions from all partners to ensure both scientific robustness and operational relevance.

To support this process, the group will launch a technical webinar series starting in April, providing a regular forum to refine indicators, align methodologies, and exchange regional insights. A first dedicated session—planned in the coming weeks—will focus specifically on the structure and applicability of the indicator system.

In parallel, collaboration will be strengthened through:

• A shared IURC cloud workspace to centralise data, presentations, and working documents
• Knowledge exchange with existing initiatives, including European forest adaptation programmes such as FireRes to leverage knowledge and avoid duplication
• Continued outreach to additional stakeholders, including private sector actors and regional forestry networks

Looking ahead, partners also agreed on the importance of in-person technical exchanges to complement virtual collaboration. Tentative plans include:

• A European meeting in late July or early August
• A potential follow-up event in Australia in October, enabling site visits and practical demonstrations

Finally, all activities will feed into the development of a Regional Cooperation Action Plan (RCAP), ensuring that the collaboration delivers concrete, scalable outcomes for forest management and climate resilience

By bringing together scientific expertise and practical forestry experience, the IURC CoP is laying the groundwork for a globally relevant approach to forest water resilience. This initiative demonstrates how international cooperation can accelerate solutions to shared environmental challenges—ensuring healthier, more resilient forests for the future.