As part of the European Green Deal, the EU has committed to planting an additional three billion trees by 2030. Achieving this ambitious target will require a significant increase in forest nursery production and tree deployment across Europe.

A newly released policy brief by the OptFORESTS project outlines the critical steps needed to support forest nurseries in scaling up their capacity. It highlights a list of priorities, including improving seed provision, making strategic species choices, and expanding nursery infrastructure, particularly in regions currently reliant on natural regeneration.

The brief also addresses the structural challenges faced by the sector, including rising production costs, declining seed quality, and uneven capacity across regions. A coordinated European approach and targeted support measures are identified as essential to ensuring success.

This concise document offers valuable insights for policymakers, nursery operators, and forest managers working towards climate-resilient and biodiverse forests.

Download the full policy brief to explore the recommendations in detail and learn how the forest nursery sector can help deliver the EU’s tree planting goals.

Discover more outputs in the OptFORESTS Stakeholder Hub!