Editor's note
Is it just me being in a filter bubble, or is AI really starting to take a foothold in forestry?
Almost every week now, there’s a new story about how digital tools are reshaping how we monitor, plan, and manage forests - from FAO’s global rollout of AI-driven monitoring systems to Guyana’s upgraded MRV platform and Virginia Tech’s LiDAR-based forest recovery research. Even New Zealand’s road safety work and DigiForest’s ground-based robotics show how far this technology is reaching.
Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s momentum - but it’s starting to feel like the point where forestry moves from talking about AI to actually using it.
Axel
FAO Expert: AI Is Revolutionizing Global Forest Management
At Finland's National Forest Days, FAO's Andreas Vollrath highlighted how AI and digital tools have transformed forest monitoring in developing countries—from pen-and-paper data collection to advanced remote sensing and machine learning platforms now used in over 190 nations.
Guyana Expands 15-Year MRV System with AI and Biodiversity Tracking
Guyana's national forest monitoring platform now combines satellite remote sensing, machine learning, and real-time deforestation alerts across 18 million hectares. The system processes 30m-resolution pixels and integrates biodiversity tracking into its core MRV stack, forming a digital backbone for South-South forest tech collaboration
Virginia Tech Receives Grant to Advance LiDAR Forest Monitoring
Virginia Tech researchers secured a $142,000 U.S. Forest Service grant to develop next-generation forest monitoring tools, combining multi-date LiDAR, 3D point clouds, and spectral data to track forest recovery, growth, and adaptation across the Southeast at unprecedented resolution.
DigiForest's Ground Drone Deploys AI for Forest Monitoring
DigiForest has developed an autonomous ground-based robotic platform equipped with advanced sensors and AI algorithms to navigate forest terrain autonomously, collecting real-time data on vegetation, soil conditions, and biodiversity. The ground drone enables accessible, cost-effective monitoring at forest floor level, complementing aerial systems for comprehensive forest assessment and management.
LiDAR and Machine Learning to Transform Forestry Road Safety in New Zealand
WorkSafe NZ and Forest360 announced a $400,000 initiative using LiDAR, machine learning, and drone assessments to identify unsafe forestry road conditions nationwide. The partnership aims to create software that will be shared sector-wide to significantly reduce risk and save lives.