• To test a digitalised method (based on a Decision Support System (DSS)) for gathering and mapping relevant information useful for planning sustainable forest management effectively in six pilot areas.
• To up-scale and apply this method to the whole region.
• To create an open platform where the information could be easily accessed and used by public bodies, forest owners and other silviculture experts managing forest resources.
• The overall aim of the project was to reduce the risks of forest abandonment and forest damage (e.g. from fires) through the provision of improved, digitalised and relevant information about the condition of the forest area.

• Creating and testing the DSS model providing detailed information about the status quo of a forest. This involved linking remotely derived data (i.e. from satellite, LiDAR, aerial pictures, etc) gathered by the University of Florence to the actual field conditions in six pilot areas representing all the different types of woodland present in the region. In the first phase, the data was harmonised according to the INSPIRE international standard, while in the field phase, a local forest inventory was used to assemble the data. Information provided by project drones was also integrated.
• Placing the information on an open platform by using the most recently available data from main sources (e.g. national and regional forest inventories) covering the whole of Tuscany.
• Organising and presenting the information in a user-friendly and clear manner, arranged by key indicators (such as Biomass, Baseal Area, Growing Stock Volume, Current Annual Increase in Growing Stock Volume). The data were designed to be easily accessible to potential users, including forest owners and consultants.
• Other supplementary training and dissemination was carried out across Tuscany and other regions (funded by RDP Tuscany).

• A DSS using different information sources was created and tested in six pilot areas encompassing a total of some 4 500 hectares (including the provinces of Firenze, Grosseto, Lucca, Siena). The system was based on a new algorithm linking field-derived observation (tree samples) with remote images.
• An online platform for the six pilot areas and for the woodlands across the whole of Tuscany (covering approx. 12 000 km²) was created, applying the tested algorithm to images updated until 2005 (updates to images from 2015 will be available by September 2023).
• The platform (accessible also by smartphone) provides data in relation to the following indicators: wood productivity (t/ha), the type and health of forest lots, the state of access to forest lots, the amount of carbon stocked in distinct forest lots (CO₂ tons), and an estimate of yearly biomass increase. It is possible to choose and design any area on the map and to retrieve the desired data. Between February 2023 (when the platform was launched) and April 2023, the platform recorded 1 200 visits.
• The platform is fully flexible and scalable and can, therefore, support most forest owners and relevant professionals in improving the overall productivity of their forest resources.

• A limitation of RDP measures was that they could be applied only at regional scale, while the EIP Operational Group had the opportunity and capacity to develop similar projects at a wider scale.
• An interesting finding was that the EIP Operational Group successfully introduced this innovation in a context where stakeholders were not used to digital tools.
• Considering the speed of technological and scientific advances in the sector of digital applications, any project would benefit from more flexibility (technical and financial) to adapt to relevant changes.

“We were proud to set-up the first online platform on forest state that could be easily used by consultants and owners.”

Ms Francesca Giannetti- Univ.of Florence

“The project turned very useful for us and other researchers in order to better understand the needs of stakeholders regarding new forest management tools.”

Ms Francesca Giannetti- Univ.of Florence