Achieving justice in digital forestry

The researchers in the project will investigate how digital forestry technologies can enable or hinder the prospect of achieving inclusive and equal forestry.

The ongoing digitization of forestry entails that large amounts of data are collected and used in decision-making processes. Digital technologies may appear objective, but if they are designed by a limited group of actors, they may reflect the priorities of those actors and obscure other interests. It is therefore essential to ensure that digital forestry technologies are developed in an inclusive manner.

Digital technologies now play a crucial role in forest planning. Through the use of drones, satellite images, and advanced computer systems, it is possible to map forest resources, plan harvest operations, and optimize operations and logistics in ways that were previously impossible. But how do these technologies affect the future of the forests when it comes to balancing use and conservation?

Digital forestry technologies are often difficult for non-experts to use. The data and models used are often based on the priorities of large actors, making it difficult for small forest owners, indigenous people, and the general public to influence decisions. The research group considers this problematic, as digital maturity is high among Swedes and easy-to-understand digital experiences are an integral part of everyday life in many other contexts.

The research group argues that by focusing on environmental justice in digital forestry, more sustainable and equal forest planning processes can be created for the future. This means that more voices and perspectives are taken into account, which they argue can lead to decisions that benefit both forests and society as a whole.

The project group wants to understand how fairness in forest use and conservation affects the development processes and how it can be made more inclusive for everyone.

To examine this, researchers will conduct a qualitative case study of Heureka, a decision support system developed by Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Heureka enables users to perform a wide range of analyses and management plans for Swedish forestry. By analyzing how the system is used, insights can be gained into how digital technologies affect the transparency and equality of forest planning.