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Landmark Study on Future of European Forest Monitoring

A landmark scientific paper co-authored by Professor Sami Ullah calls for a major overhaul in how Europe monitors the health and sustainability of its forests.

30 May 2025
Misty forest at sunrise

A landmark scientific paper co-authored by Professor Sami Ullah from the University of Birmingham is calling for a major overhaul in how Europe monitors the health and sustainability of its forests. Published in Plants, People, Planet, the paper makes a compelling case for a harmonised, collaborative forest monitoring system across Europe to respond more effectively to the growing threats of climate change, climate extremes and pollution.

The paper, titled Building synergies among ground-based forest inventorying and monitoring networks to meet scientific, political, and societal needs, was developed by the CLEANFOREST COST Action (CA21138), a network of over 400 scientists from 38 countries. CLEANFOREST is working to better understand how climate extremes and atmospheric deposition are affecting Europe’s forests.

Our forests are on the frontline of climate change. To manage and protect them effectively, we must unify our monitoring efforts. This paper presents a crucial step forward in enabling European scientists to work together using harmonised data to inform forest policy, conservation, and carbon management strategies.

Professor Sami Ullah, Professor in Biogeochemistry at the University of Birmingham and a co-author of the study

The authors argue that while several robust national and international forest monitoring networks already exist, the lack of integration and data sharing among them limits their impact. They call for a pan-European alliance to foster collaboration between research infrastructures, encourage consistent monitoring protocols, and enhance data accessibility to meet policy and societal needs. 

Given the current momentum in European forest policy, now is the time to foster stronger synergies among Europe’s leading research infrastructures

Dr. Rossella Guerrieri, Chair of CLEANFOREST

The study's recommendations stem from discussions held at the CLEANFOREST Annual Meeting in Thessaloniki in 2023. It is seen as a pivotal step toward aligning Europe’s scientific and policy communities to secure the future of its forests. 

Featured staff

  • Professor Sami Ullah

    Professor of Biogeochemistry

    Dr Sami Ullah's research is mainly focused on the biogeochemistry of nitrogen and its linkages to carbon and phosphorus cycling under global change in soils under crops

    Phone: +44 (0)121 414 8143
    Email:

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