Forests are a fundamental ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss and are key to thriving rural areas and the bioeconomy. Unfortunately, Europe's forests are suffering from many different pressures, including climate change and unsustainable human activities. Better monitoring will enable measures to increase the resilience of forests to the cross-border threats of pests, drought and forest fires that are exacerbated by climate change, enable new business models such as carbon agriculture, and support compliance with agreed EU legislation. Ultimately, this will contribute to strengthening the ability of forests to fulfil their multiple environmental and socio-economic functions, including their role as natural carbon sinks.