Still reading Gaelic poetry to deaf seagulls? A renewed call for action in climate-adapted forestry

From Canada to Europe, forests face universal climate-driven threats, yet a chasm separates scientific solutions from on-the-ground implementation. Thirty years after G.L. Baskerville described this disconnect as scientists writing “Gaelic poetry for deaf seagulls,” the metaphor remains alarmingly accurate. This inaction stems from fragmented perspectives among researchers, industry, and practitioners operating with parallel, sometimes conflicting goals. While robust silvicultural tools like partial harvesting and diversification of forest composition to enhance forest resilience exist, they remain underutilized, threatening the viability of our forests and forest-dependent communities. In this article, we argue that the scientific community must move beyond diagnosing barriers and actively co-create operational and practical solutions. We propose a concrete, three-pronged strategy to bridge the science-practice gap: 1) deeply integrate researchers within partner organizations for hands-on collaboration; 2) strengthen the unique influence of forest certification by demanding that standards link procedural audits to measurable climate adaptation outcomes; and 3) create government financial incentives to make adaptive silviculture economically viable. The urgency is paramount. The responsibility of researchers now extends beyond publication to knowledge transfer.