FORSAID brings forest health science to the public in Ljubljana

Awareness-raising is an essential element of successfully safeguarding Europe’s forests from pests - when the public understands how such harmful species spread and why their early detection matters, that knowledge itself bolsters wider protection of this biome. In May 2026, the Slovenian Forestry Institute (SFI) brought this idea to life, engaging the public of Ljubljana through two outreach events that took forest science, together with FORSAID, directly to citizens, families and children.

Festival Raznoživo: The public meets forest pests

On 22 May, the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Institute organised a stand in the centre of Ljubljana as part of Festival Raznoživo (Biodiversity Festival). There, the focus was on the protection of forests against harmful organisms, with special attention afforded to quarantine pests and their pathways to outbreaks.

Visitors could learn about plant health monitoring and the early detection of such biotic stressors, including via modern surveillance methods such as automated trapping systems - a tech solution that is central to FORSAID’s approach to forest protection. In that sense, the project was featured as one of the key European initiatives behind innovative tools for improved early detection and monitoring of pests. The stand saw around 150 visitors - they were engaged in conversations about the importance of everyone’s role in keeping forests healthy. 

SFI’s Open Day: The next generation discovers forest science

A few days later, the Institute welcomed over 400 kindergarten and primary school children for a series of interactive workshops. They learned about forest pests and plant diseases through hands-on activities -  recognising symptoms, understanding the impact of harmful organisms and finding out how they are introduced into new environments.

FORSAID’s target species featured heavily in the workshops, alongside a number of the project’s innovative monitoring technologies, namely satellite tracking, smart traps and molecular analyses. The workshops also introduced children to #PlantHealth4Life, a EU awareness campaign led by the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) across 33 countries to encourage everyday actions that protect plant health. The campaign’s mascot, Pesty, also made an appearance and with FORSAID’s materials on hand, the day left a real impression on the younger audience. 

All in all, both events went beyond mere outreach. They showcased FORSAID to new audiences, demonstrating and engaging the public in a new vision for forest pest detection and management in Europe.