RE-ENFORCE Harmonized Database on Drivers of Forest Degradation

RE-ENFORCE Harmonized Database on Drivers of Forest Degradation (v1.0.0) is a transnational geospatial dataset integrating key environmental, climatic, forest, soil, and disturbance-related layers to support modelling and assessment of forest degradation and restoration potential across Central Europe. The database consolidates spatial data from multiple European providers into a unified structure, harmonized in projection (WGS84, EPSG:4326), spatial resolution (30 arc-seconds, ~1 km), and geographic extent. Developed within Work Package 1 of the RE-ENFORCE project, the database serves as the common geospatial foundation for all analytical and modelling tasks in subsequent work packages. It enables cross-border comparability, reproducibility of workflows, and consistent inputs for modelling forest degradation drivers, ecosystem services, climate impacts, and restoration priorities. The dataset includes harmonized layers on land cover, climate variables (CHELSA), derived temperature indices (Growing Degree Days), topography (EU-DEM), forest structure (biomass, canopy height, species distributions), soil properties (ESDBv2), registered seed sources (FOREMATIS), and historical disturbance records (bark beetle). All layers are extensively documented and accompanied by metadata, source citations, and licence information. The structure and metadata are localized in Git-hub repository: JCepl/RE-ENFORCE-Harmonized-Database: This Git-hub Repository acompanies the ZENODO repository for the Transnational Cooperation on Nature-based Solutions for Restoring Degraded Forests of Central Europe (RE-ENFORCE) This first release (v1.0.0) provides the baseline environmental predictors and validation layers required for modelling within RE-ENFORCE. Future versions will integrate additional outputs, including restoration strategies, spatial indicators, and model-derived products, maintaining full transparency through versioning and accompanying GitHub documentation. The database is openly accessible under the original licences of each data provider and supports researchers, forest managers, and policymakers in developing evidence-based strategies for forest restoration and resilience under climate change.