European forests face biodiversity boost as Canadian wildfires dim solar power

The EU‑funded OptFORESTS project is planting genetically diverse tree species across 28 sites in Europe to increase forest resilience against drought, fires and disease. Researchers such as Katri Himanen of Finland’s Luke institute and Santiago González‑Martínez of France’s INRAE are coordinating the effort, which involves 12 tree species and aims to diversify forests that cover about 43 % of EU land.

At the same time, massive boreal wildfires in Canada have burned 3.4 million hectares and generated thick smoke that has travelled to Europe. The haze has reduced solar power generation in several European countries, prompting a temporary rise in fossil‑fuel electricity use. The combined pressures highlight the interconnected challenges of forest health, climate change and energy security across the continent.