Digital tools and technology systems for the sustainable management of Mediterranean forest resources

Información del proyecto

DIGIMEDFOR

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 101081928

DOI

10.3030/101081928

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 18 Abril 2023

Fecha de inicio 1 Junio 2023

Fecha de finalización 31 Mayo 2026

Financiado con arreglo a

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Coste total

€ 6 621 797,50

Aportación de la UE

€ 5 964 610,00

Coordinado por

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DIGIMEDFOR (Digital tools and technology systems for the sustainable management of Mediterranean forest resources)

Período documentado: 2023-06-01 hasta 2024-11-30

Resumen del contexto y de los objetivos generales del proyecto

The forest economy is becoming more complex and connected worldwide. Factors like climate change, energy policies, new technologies, and the growing importance of ecosystem services are all having an impact. The ability of forests, woodlands, and trees to fulfil the increasing demand for various goods and services and environmental and social benefits increasingly depends on advancements in digital technologies and improvements in forest science and technology. Nevertheless, the use of digital solutions in the Mediterranean forest sector to improve the supply chain and develop management strategies is not enough. Currently, the sustainable management of Mediterranean forest resources presents opportunities and problems typical of the forest supply chain, common to several EU countries. There are significant differences in adoption rates of digital solutions between developed and developing countries, as well as between governments and businesses, and among different parts of the forest industry. To handle it, there must be a fundamental change in how digital technologies are used and developed for forest purposes, with more focus placed on ecosystem services and their interaction with social and economic systems. In that context, the DigiMedFor project, integrating and developing modern digital technologies into the monitoring and management systems of local forest resources, aims to increase competitiveness, management and delivery of multiple forest ecosystem services and traceability resources origin from forests to end-users to cope with illegal wood exchange.

Trabajo realizado desde el comienzo del proyecto hasta el final del período abarcado por el informe y los principales resultados hasta la fecha

DigiMedFor is at the forefront of innovation, utilising state-of-the-art digital solutions to significantly improve the monitoring and management of forest resources along the supply chain to the primary wood industry. At the core of this ambitious project is the seamless integration of a diverse array of advanced technologies. These include géospatial analysis, which enables detailed mapping and understanding of forest landscapes; artificial intelligence, which facilitates intelligent decision-making; process-based modelling for comprehensive ecological assessments; and 3D immersive visualisation that brings forest environments to a virtual space.
DigiMedFor created a standard format to systematically harmonise local forest attributes and a database of local forest inventory. In addition, a smart-app inventory system was developed to promote ease of access and interaction with forest data, enhancing the management capabilities of forestry professionals. The project established an innovative system to optimise the traceability of wood resources, combining Radio Frequency Identification and Blockchain technology, ensuring transparency and sustainability throughout the wood supply chain.
An open-source web application is designed to support public and private forestry decision-makers by providing access to critical planning tools, methodologies, and data resources. A virtual forest decision support system will also be introduced, blending advanced modelling techniques with immersive 3D representations of forest stands, allowing stakeholders to simulate and analyse various forest management scenarios. These concerted efforts highlight the Digi-Med-For project's core activities and reflect a deep commitment to promoting responsible and sustainable forestry practices that are crucial for preserving our natural resources for future generations.

Avances que van más allá del estado de la técnica e impacto potencial esperado (incluida la repercusión socioeconómica y las implicaciones sociales más amplias del proyecto hasta la fecha)

DigiMedFor technologies help improve the forest sector, which is currently not very advanced in using technology. It connects forestry stakeholders with digital experts to improve the quality of forest inventories, cope with illegal logging, and promote sustainable forest management and wood traceability. The project has three main areas that could benefit from digital innovation. The Forest Inventory Systems: In Mediterranean countries, forest management and wood supply mostly depend on paper documents, like management plans and logging permits. This reliance on paper limits how effectively resources are managed. Standardization of local inventories and combination with digital tools to collect forest data could improve the monitoring and managing of forest resources around the Mediterranean areas. The Traceability and Classification of Wood Products: Currently the travel of tree logs from the forest to its final product is long and complex, involving a lot of bureaucracy. As data is collected at each step, much of it gets lost along the supply chain. Digital technology systems in traceability could help control the movement of wood and monitor supply chain processes. Forestry Planning Models and Decision-Making: Many current forest management practices need to consider various factors like economic, environmental, and social impacts. Modern societies require many goods and services from forests. However, decision-making methods that use process-based models are seldom applied. Instead, many still rely on traditional methods that focus only on growth and yield estimates. The possibility of combining modelling and interactive 3D visualization could improve the prediction of management operations by simulating the long-term consequences on forest ecosystems.