On May 25, 2026, ahead of the annual European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF) conference in Malmö, Sweden, leadership from COST Action CA23148 (INTUF) convened with the EFUF board. The primary objective of this meeting was to establish a framework for future collaborative activities and to identify structural synergies between the two networks.
Both INTUF and EFUF share a core commitment to advancing urban forestry across Europe, yet they operate through complementary mechanisms. While EFUF provides a long-standing, vital platform for the convergence of research, practice, and policy, the INTUF COST Action focuses on systematizing interdisciplinary collaboration to develop standardized frameworks for ecosystem service assessment, strategic management, and stakeholder engagement.
During the strategy session, the boards discussed several key areas for potential integration:
Coordinated Knowledge Transfer: Aligning INTUF’s scientific outputs and Working Group deliverables with EFUF’s established dissemination channels to ensure that new research reaches municipal practitioners and policymakers effectively.
Capacity Building Initiatives: Exploring joint training schools, workshops, and short-term scientific missions (STSMs) that leverage the expertise within both networks, particularly focusing on engaging smaller municipalities and private urban forest owners.
Policy Advocacy: Unifying messaging around the critical need for nature-based solutions and resilient green infrastructure to maximize impact at the European policy level.
Future Event Integration: Streamlining the organization of future symposiums and conferences to reduce overlap, optimize resources, and foster a more cohesive European urban forestry community.
By aligning our strategic objectives, both networks aim to accelerate the transition from scientific research to practical, science-driven urban forest management.
We look forward to translating these discussions into concrete joint initiatives over the current funding period and will share further updates on collaborative projects for the coming EFUF 2027 and beyond.
