EO4CAM in Forestry: Intensive Exchange with Practitioners in March 2026
EO4CAM used the SmartForest Conference 2026 in Freising as an opportunity to engage with researchers, developers, and representatives of the forestry sector. The annual event focuses on discussing current digital solutions for climate-adapted and sustainable forest management.
Dr. Julian Fäth from the Earth Observation Research Cluster at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg presented the current status of EO4CAM’s work in the forestry domain. Particular emphasis was placed on new EO4CAM data products as well as the recently released EO4CAM data portal, which facilitates access to results and datasets and supports the transfer of research findings into practical applications.
In addition to project presentations and technical dialogues, the direct exchange with experts from research institutions, public authorities, and forestry practice is what makes the SmartForest conference particularly valuable. Discussions with institutions such as the Bavarian State Forestry Enterprise and the Bavarian State Institute of Forestry (LWF) highlighted the strong demand for application-oriented remote sensing products to support operational decision-making processes in Bavarian forestry.
In addition, a stakeholder dialogue with EO4CAM practice partners from the forestry sector took place on 30 March 2026. During the workshop, different remote sensing-based data products developed within EO4CAM were aligned with practical requirements in order to further optimize the products and close existing data gaps. Among the topics discussed were the need for data on vegetation height, canopy cover loss, landscape water balance, and drought stress in European beech, as well as possibilities for mapping skid trails and forest roads and assessing the susceptibility of forest stands to pest infestations.
Participation in conferences and hosting stakeholder dialogues is a key element of continuous exchange between research and practice, enabling the further development of digital solutions for forestry. The recently released EO4CAM data portal provides the basis for this exchange. The developed data products can be directly accessed and evaluated for practical applications, allowing them to be further adapted to operational needs.