Pilot 1 – FMMF
Montagne Fiorentine Model Forest (FMMF) represents Pilot1. The aim of this pilot is to verify the feasibility of implementing new techniques of wood qualification, classification and labeling that can bring benefits to the local forestry supply chain. Portable and quick tools will allow to assess the wood quality thus improving processing yields, differentiate wood production based on final use and certify its origin. The innovations introduced will be tested on concrete cases, analyzing wood from different tree species, considering at least two types of forestry supply chains, verifying the applicability of modern classification methods, and comparing the benefits deriving from the introduction of digital innovations.
Pilot 2 – KAVALA
Pilot 2 is in the forest of Limnia, belonging to the Municipality of Kavala, in Greece, which is responsible for drafting the Forest Management Plan (FMP) every 10 years. The FMP spatially identifies the above-ground volume in each forest management unit and the volume (yield) that can be deforested during the validity period of the FMP. In Pilot2 we will use cutting-edge technologies to obtain precise information on both the quantity and quality of timber. This information will be collected into a common dynamic database which will support forest managers and operators in the decision-making process.
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Pilot 3 – CESEFOR
Pilot 3 is in Soria, Castilla y Leon, Spain. In this area, both public and private forest owners have undertaken several activities to promote the use of local wood. There is an area to the north-western Soria and south-eastern Burgos, where a thick blanket of Pinus sylvestris pine forests covers all the territory up to the tree line on the high peaks of the Sistema Ibérico. This pine forest has traditionally been a great source of wealth and the forests are now managed mainly for the timber trade and furniture factories. In Soria, the forest-wnw supply chain consists of harvesting and logistical transport of 300,000 m3 of conifers every year. The main purpose of this pilot is to increase control of timber transport from the forest to the sawmill to minimize commercial fraud and improve control of the timber volumes harvested. The innovations consist of digital tracking of timber logged from the forest to the primary wood industry with a mobile picture-based solution, aligning the requirements of wood sellers and industry buyers.
Pilot 4 – CREAF
Pilot 4 is in the Certified Surface in Catalonia Among the many ecosystem services provided by Mediterranean forests (especially oak forests, which represent 20% of the extensive forests of Catalonia), carbon sequestration, the regulation of blue water availability, biodiversity and soil conservation are vital in the face of climate change.
The main objective of the Pilot 4 is to provide forest managers (both of private and public forests) access to the main indicators of ecosystem services (where to find them, how to obtain them) per Management Unit Scale, and management guidelines to support them in the sustainable management of forests. Also, another goal is to increase transparency on sustainable forest management by sharing information along the forest-wnw supply chain, from the certifiers to the potential final consumers, pointing attention to the role played by the forest in carbon sequestration, blue water regulation, biodiversity, and soil conservation.
Replication site 1
Forests and grasslands provide a wide range of ecosystem services. In addition to providing food, fuel and fibre, forests clean the air, filter water supplies, control floods and erosion, sustain biodiversity and genetic resources, and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and cultural enrichment. The replication site 1 will focus on five ecosystem services that will be involved in new digitalization tool: carbon sequestration, soil conservation, water regulation, recreation and tourism, and carbon sequestration.
Replication site 2
Digitalization of forest management can address several challenges faced by declining sectors such as less well-maintained forests and less economic activity. For instance, digital tools can help monitor the health status of trees, track changes due to climate change, and manage fragmented forests. Specifically for replication site 2, in the case of cork oak digitalization can help revive lost know-how in cork harvesting, address labour shortages, and find economic outlets for poor quality cork. Similarly, for chestnut, it can help manage labour shortages, find outlets for poor-quality chestnuts, and address productivity issues due to health problems. Overall, digitalization can support the protection of biodiversity and various uses of the forest, ensuring its sustainable management in the face of changing environmental and economic conditions.
Replication site 3
The objective of replications site 3 consist of carrying out the diagnosis of the actual state of the Quercus suber forest, digitalising and collecting cork production data, and its environmental and socio-economic values. With this data a specific database of the territory to ensure sustainable management of the cork is created, together with the development of a model for monitoring the traceability of the cork product from harvest to finished products.
Replication site 4
Replication site 4 will focus on digital tools that can help prioritize cuts according to demand, thereby optimizing resource utilization. The introduction of a digital signature system can streamline processes by eliminating the need for physical paper documents. This not only makes the process more efficient but also reduces the environmental impact. Furthermore, digitalization allows for accurate product predictions and forecasts for final products in direct sales, enabling better planning and decision-making. It also aids in determining temporary and permanent forest roads according to production, ensuring optimal transportation and logistics management.
Replication site 5
The replication site 5 activities will focus on Zakarpattia Forest Technical College of the National Forestry University of Ukraine. Through the replication of solutions from DigiMedFor pilots the replication site activities will include identifying the forest policy and regulation and how they can integrate the current digital technology to regulate the management and traceability of forest resources. Knowledge will be generated for effective forest management planning and decisions, and for improving timber resources tracking, together with the digitalization of forest lands.