The project SPONFOREST (SPONtaneous FORest ESTablishment) aims to analyze the socio-economic relevance of small-scale and young successive forests. Three ecosystem services were analyzed in more detail: 1) forest products including biomass as well as non-timber products. 2) Within fragmented landscapes, forest patches offer habitats to diverse game species; hunting licenses and land rental are potential sources of income. 3) The aesthetic appreciation of forests provides numerous opportunities for recreation and tourism. SPONFOREST involves 8 research partners in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Finland, and UNIQUE as SME. UNIQUE, at the interface of science and practice, was responsible for a multi-disciplinary synthesis of results as well as the formulation and dissemination of recommendations.

• Organization and facilitation of a participatory EU workshop in Brussels.
• Multi-disciplinary synthesis of project results.
• Compilation, distribution and dissemination of an EU policy brief.