Background Climate change is affecting Europe's forest ecosystems. Southern Europe, where lack of water is a limiting factor for vegetation growth, is particularly affected by climate change, which is causing prolonged droughts, rising temperatures and longer periods of unsettled and windy weather. As a result, fires are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening woodland areas. There has been a decline in forest productivity and a decline in the tree population (mainly pines and oaks). Storms cause trees to fall, damaging timber and making it impossible or difficult to sell. Other consequences of climate change include increased damage caused by pests, the spread of epidemics affecting forest species and a change in the dynamics of woodland species populations. Sicily has more than 500 000 ha of forest, and proper forest management is necessary to preserve forest ecosystems from the negative effects of climate change. Objectives The 'RELIFORMED' project's broad aim is to preserve forest ecosystems in the face of the risks related to climate changes, by promoting naturalisation processes and biodiversity increase, and by improving the resilience of ecosystems to environmental stress. The specific objective of the project is to implement a regional forest policy that will increase the resilience of Sicilian forests and favour biodiversity conservation. To this end, the project will: Produce regional maps identifying the areas of Sicily most at risk from climate change; Define, through indicators, the role of communities and ecosystems in adapting to climate change; Define the best management models for improving the resilience of forest environments; Implement silvicultural techniques to support the evolution of forest systems (naturalisation, boosting of pre-forest processes), on a pilot area covering 120 ha; and Involve local communities in forest-protection measures.Expected results The main quantified expected results are: Development of forest-management guidelines that will be effective in boosting the resilience of Sicily's forests in the face of climate change; Implementation of a forest-management plan for the Region of Sicily; Demonstration of forest-management good practice at sites that are representative of Mediterranean forest types; Training programmes for relevant staff; and An increase in citizens' awareness of the issues covered by the project.