EUSTAFOR Contributes to the Call for Evidence on the Water Resilience Strategy

The overall goal of the European water resilience strategy is to set a clear path towards water security and resilience, while better integrating water considerations across different policies and sources of funding. It also aims to scale up investments, leverage research and innovation and close the skills gap, taking account of social impacts and territorial differences to ensure a just transition.  The Commission has now called for a public consultation on a call for evidence to begin the process.

The initiative will focus on three specific objectives:

• Restore and protect the broken water cycle;
• Ensure clean and affordable water and sanitation for all; and
• Promote a competitive EU water industry and a clean, water-wise and circular economy.

EUSTAFOR Highlights Forests’ Crucial Role in Europe’s Water Resilience

EUSTAFOR has responded to the European Commission’s public call for evidence on the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy (EWRS), underlining the critical role of forests in maintaining Europe’s water balance.

As natural water regulators, forests contribute to groundwater recharge, streamflow regulation, and flood prevention while filtering pollutants and improving soil stability. However, climate change, increasing water demands, and land-use changes are putting forests under growing pressure.

EUSTAFOR calls for the integration of sustainable forest management into water policies to enhance water resilience, emphasising the need for region-specific approaches that reflect local climate and land-use conditions. Forests not only store and filter water but also consume it, particularly in drier regions, highlighting the need for careful management to balance water provision and ecosystem health.

The response also underscores the importance of active forest management to mitigate flood risks, preserve water quality, and adapt to climate change impacts. EUSTAFOR recommends stronger cooperation between forest, water, and agricultural sectors, financial support for water-smart forestry, and research into the water impacts of different forest management techniques.

Forests are essential allies in Europe’s water future, and their sustainable management must be a core pillar of the European Water Resilience Strategy.

More on the Water resilience Strategy and the latest documents here