Forests are increasingly affected by prolonged drought and rising temperatures. Across Switzerland and much of Europe, trees are dying—not in sudden collapse, but through slow, accumulative stress that weakens ecosystems over time. This phenomenon, often invisible until it becomes irreversible, is reshaping entire landscapes. Tree mortality linked to climate-induced drought is not an exception—it is becoming a pattern. Some species are more vulnerable than others, some areas more exposed. Understanding these differences is crucial, but remains challenging. What does forest health look like when decline unfolds gradually, across canopies, roots, and soils?

This project begins by paying close attention—not only to trees and data, but to the people who live and work with forests every day. Rather than rushing to solutions, it asks: what can we learn from those who notice change first? From forest caretakers, local communities, and practitioners whose daily experiences carry vital knowledge?

The work responds not with certainty, but by listening—carefully, relationally, and across disciplines. These voices from the field are not peripheral; they are central to understanding forest health in a time of crisis.

Drone imagery of forest remains after a major drought event in Morbio Superiore (2024, Ticino, Switzerland).