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December 2023

Filling the gap on consistent and spatially explicit insect and disease forest disturbance data
Filling the gap on consistent and spatially explicit insect and disease forest disturbance data

Forest disturbances are increasing in Europe, but geospatial data describing them are often scattered. The Database of European Forest Insect & Disease Disturbances (DEFID2) allows researchers across Europe to share their geospatial reference records of insect and disease disturbances in European forests. Curated by the JRC, DEFID2 currently contains 650,000 harmonized georeferenced records mapped as polygons or points, complemented by the FORWIND database on windthrow events.

Source: Global Change Biology | Environmental Change Journal | Wiley Online Library

Change of focus in remote sensing science could increase user-uptake in forestry
Change of focus in remote sensing science could increase user-uptake in forestry

Remote sensing science often focuses on a particular data source or methodological development rather than the operational use of derived information. Fassnacht et al. see slow user-uptake, technical issues related to forest inventories, and map validation as challenges in using remote sensing in forest inventory and monitoring programmes. They recommend sharing success stories, addressing real-world problems, and promoting best practices to increase the user-uptake of new technologies.

Source: Remote sensing in forestry: current challenges, considerations and directions | Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research | Oxford Academic (oup.com)