Strengthening Mediterranean forest-wood supply chains
Over the past decade or so, the Mediterranean region has increasingly been affected by droughts and wildfires. This summer, the EU deployed(opens in new window) its largest ever wildfire response, with a record number of firefighters, aircraft and emergency experts. In addition to causing environmental devastation, climate-related events are also economically damaging to the forestry sector. This has underlined the importance of careful management of valuable forestry resources such as timber. “Many forestry businesses are small enterprises without the means to access cutting-edge management tools or information,” explains DIGIMEDFOR(opens in new window) project coordinator Luigi Saulino from University of Naples Federico II(opens in new window) in Italy. “This makes it harder for them to efficiently plan their operations.” The danger is that this situation becomes a vicious circle. When effective forest management breaks down due to challenging circumstances, abandoned land often turns to dry brush, creating even more fire risk.
Information along the timber supply chain
The EU-funded DIGIMEDFOR project therefore set out to develop and trial a range of digital technologies designed to strengthen the Mediterranean forest-wood supply chain, part of an overall EU goal. The aim was to boost competitiveness while ensuring the long-term sustainability of forest resources. “We wanted to build a bridge between forest managers and technology,” says Saulino. “To do this we adopted a multi-actor approach that included forestry experts, AI, process-based modelling, and digital traceability. The idea was that these technologies would be used to collect critical information along the timber supply chain.”
Digital support tools for Mediterranean forests
Existing forestry data was used wherever possible to develop these digital support tools. “For example, mobile applications were developed to take inventories of forest data,” notes Saulino. “AI was used to recognise trees, and to assess the quality of timber.” Non-destructive acoustic testing for log stiffness was developed, along with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to trace timber along the supply chain. “We also worked together with certification body PEFC(opens in new window) to develop a platform to assess and report ecosystem services within a forest,” adds Saulino. PEFC guarantees wood and paper products come from sustainably managed forests. Finally, virtual 3D headset technology based on forest data was developed. This enabled forest managers to visualise the environment and better understand the potential impact of operational decisions. These tools were trialled in primary forest pilots around Europe – in particular Greece, Italy and Spain – before being replicated in other forests. This helped to demonstrate their replicability across different forest conditions.
Encouraging uptake from forest managers
The project team is now moving towards commercialising these tools. One of the most market-ready innovations is the RFID traceability system. Saulino points out that the tool will help industry ensure it is compliant with traceability rules designed to prevent the illegal timber trade. “We want to move from demonstrations to the routine operational use of these tools,” he remarks. “This will require additional validation in different forest types. Some models based on AI will also require more data before being really transferrable to other forests.” Saulino expects that once market-ready, these tools will be integrated into existing information systems. This will encourage uptake from forest managers. “Training is another priority,” he says. “This will give operators the chance to test tools under real working conditions, to see how they can reduce cost, save time and improve decision-making.”
