EUROPEAN FOREST INSTITUTE

Their core work

The European Forest Institute is an international research organization headquartered in Finland that provides science-based evidence on forests, forestry, and the bioeconomy to support European policy and land management decisions. They specialize in forest genetic resources, ecosystem services valuation, fire management, and sustainable wood supply chains. EFI bridges the gap between forest science and practical implementation by running large-scale coordination networks, developing monitoring frameworks, and translating research into tools for forest managers, breeders, and policymakers. Their work spans from genetic conservation of tree species to urban forestry and nature-based solutions for cities.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), EFI concentrated heavily on traditional forest science: genetic conservation and breeding of tree species, sustainable wood procurement, and bioeconomy monitoring. From 2019 onward, their portfolio shifted toward resilience, restoration, and broader landscape-level thinking — urban forestry, nature-based solutions, fire-resilient territories, and ecosystem restoration at scale. The keyword shift from "forest management" and "breeding" toward "landscape design," "disturbances," and "knowledge transfer" signals a move from managing forests as productive resources to managing them as complex socio-ecological systems under climate stress.

EFI is moving from forest production science toward climate adaptation and large-scale ecosystem restoration, making them an increasingly relevant partner for climate resilience and urban greening projects.

How they like to work

EFI operates as both a project leader and a highly active consortium partner, coordinating 6 of their 23 projects (26%) including some of their largest grants. With 308 unique partners across 47 countries, they function as a network hub — connecting diverse actors rather than returning to the same small group. Their coordination projects tend to be large-scale networking and innovation actions (CSA, RIA), suggesting they are valued for their ability to bring together fragmented communities across Europe rather than for narrow technical contributions alone.

EFI has collaborated with 308 distinct partners across 47 countries, giving them one of the broadest networks in European forest research. Their reach spans from Mediterranean fire-prone regions to Nordic forestry nations, with strong connections across both Western and Eastern Europe.

What sets them apart

EFI is not a university department — it is a dedicated international research organization specifically built to serve European forest policy and practice, giving it a unique convening power across national boundaries. Their combination of deep forest genetics expertise with emerging work in urban forestry and fire resilience makes them unusually versatile. For consortium builders, EFI offers both scientific credibility and a proven ability to coordinate large, multi-country networks with strong knowledge transfer components.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SUPERB
  Largest single grant (EUR 2.5M to EFI) — a flagship ecosystem restoration project that EFI coordinates, signaling their leadership ambition in the EU restoration agenda.
• CLEARING HOUSE
  EFI-coordinated project (EUR 1.2M) that marks a strategic pivot into urban forestry and nature-based solutions — a significant departure from their traditional rural forest focus.
• GenRes Bridge
  EFI-coordinated bridging project that unified genetic resources management across crops, livestock, and forests — demonstrating cross-domain coordination beyond forestry alone.