Smart Forwarder for sustainable and efficient forest operation and management

Abstract

Forest biomass is one of the most important source of renewable energy and accounts for almost half of the Europe’s total renewable energy consumption. In addition to raw materials, forests also play an es­sential role in climate change mitigation (like CO2 capture), safeguarding biodiversity, providing non-wood forest products and recreational environments. There is thus an emerging paradox of producing more wood in a more sustainable manner, meaning an energy-efficient operation in the respect of the forest environment; this to assure also the availability of the non-wood products. The Innovation Action Forwarder2020, co-financed by the European Commission, has the main aim of improving sustainability of wood production and delivery as well as operational forest management and planning. This will be achieved by developing specific innovations for more efficient forwarders (wood extraction and transportation vehicles).