Researchers, regional authorities, and forest management services in western Spain have teamed up to transform up to 8,000 hectares of pine forests into areas managed through low-density tree cultivation, livestock grazing, and wood or resin harvesting. Local authorities are planting a mix of native tree species.

Fernando Pulido, an ecologist at the University of Extremadura, developed the “productive firebreaks” approach, which uses different types of vegetation to make it harder for fires to spread. The approach is now being scaled up.

“The initiative aims to transform 20% of the region’s continuous, high-risk pine monocultures into productive fuel breaks and agroforestry mosaics,” wrote the European Commission, which funded the five-year Resist research project.

According to the European Commission, these measures can create economic opportunities, support sustainable land management, and help address rural depopulation.

The European project also brings together “twinning regions,” defined as territories that share similar climate-related hazards.

“Researchers and businesses can test whether solutions developed in one location can be transferred to another,” the European Commission said, opening the door to collaboration between European municipalities and regions.

Experts involved in the Resist project are reportedly testing more than 100 climate adaptation solutions.