Transforming Forestry: The Launch of the SingleTree Project

SingleTree stands for "Optimizing multifunctional forest-based value chains with single tree information and the application of digital technologies." The project focuses on improving climate change adaptation, forest resilience, and the multifunctional use of woody biomass by leveraging precision forestry techniques.

The SingleTree project aims to achieve several key objectives that focus on enhancing forest management practices. One of the primary goals is to develop an AI and remote sensing-enabled monitoring approach specifically designed for single trees, which will provide new insights on tree health, wood quality, and biodiversity value. Relying on improved tree information, the project seeks to create adaptive management tools at the single-tree level, balancing forest multifunctionality, operational efficiency, and forest resilience. Further, intelligent machines will be deployed to implement the individual-tree level management prescriptions and simultaneously capture in-situ data on wood-quality and environmental performance. Finally, the project aims to improve traceability from the forest to the sawmills and early wood quality prediction, ensuring a streamlined supply chain for biomass products.

The SingleTree project fosters collaboration among stakeholders throughout the forest value chain and promotes innovative approaches to forest management. By focusing on individual trees, the project will enable more precise monitoring and management, ultimately leading to healthier forests and better adaptation strategies for climate change.

“We are thrilled to launch the SingleTree project, which offers a great opportunity to leverage advances in sensor and AI technologies to drive a more sustainable, multifunctional, and resilient forest management. By shifting from traditional stand-based management to single tree digital value chains, we aim at ensuring granularity and richness of information required to tackle today’s complex forestry challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resilience. With a skilled team combining expertise in AI, remote sensing, forest management, operations, and wood quality, we are well positioned to set new standards in how single tree data can enhance forest management across various European forest operational realities”, state the project coordinators from NIBIO.

To connect individual technical solutions within fully integrated digital value chains, the SingleTree project will showcase innovations across three Living Lab Value Chains (LLVCs) situated in northern, central, and southern Europe, each reflecting diverse environmental and socio-economic conditions. These LLVCs will be implemented through local research and stakeholder engagement, ensuring adequate territory for developing and validating innovative actions.

• LLVC North is located in northern/central Sweden the forest owned by the SCA, Europe’s largest private forest owner. With a fully integrated value-chain SCA leads the digitalization frontier and in this LLVC the focus is on Conversion to a more climate and biodiversity resilient forest management supported by an optimized single tree decision, ensuring the delivery a multiple functions and services of forests.
• LLVC Central, situated in the Canton of Bern in central Switzerland and managed by the State Forest Enterprise Bern, adopts a multifunctional approach. It targets multiple services simultaneously through digital technologies and aims to manage small-scale forests using a continuous cover forestry strategy. This approach emphasizes single-tree decision-making, despite limited access to modern digital information systems.
• LLVC South, located in Castilla y León in northwestern of the Iberian Peninsula, represents even-aged coniferous forests within the Mediterranean region. This area features various silvicultural schemes, diverse site indexes, and significant variability in timber quality. This LLVC focuses on multifunctional management strategies to enhance climate resilience and value creation.

Across all LLVCs, risks associated with climate change will be addressed through the adoption of region-specific management strategies that promote the resilience of forest ecosystems.

The impact of the SingleTree project includes improving forest management practices through enhanced understanding of biodiversity, climate change effects, and non-invasive quality control. It aims to align biomass supply and demand for bio-based industries while increasing engagement and innovation among regional stakeholders, including SMEs. Furthermore, the project will accelerate the development of rural industrial ecosystems and promote sustainable material use, resulting in positive environmental, social, and economic benefits for regional development.

About the SingleTree Project

The SingleTree project, funded by the Circular Bioeconomy Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) with a contribution of €4.9 million, brings together 14 partners from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain, and Switzerland. Launched in September 2024 and set to conclude in August 2028, its goal is to optimize multifunctional forest-based value chains by leveraging advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and remote sensing. With three Living Lab Value Chains (LLVCs) located in Sweden (North), Switzerland (Central) and Spain (South) diverse European regions, SingleTree aims to enhance forest management practices, bolster climate change adaptation, and streamline biomass supply chains. This initiative ultimately supports the EU Forest Strategy while delivering significant environmental, social, and economic benefits for rural development.

X: https://x.com/SingleTree_eu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/singletree

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them. Grant agreement N. º 101157488