FORSAID has published a set of four practice abstracts on EIP-AGRI’s platform, EU CAP Network, that signal a leap forward in the monitoring and management of forest pests across Europe. These developments not only highlight significant scientific advances but also underscore the project’s focus on practical impact, cross-sector collaboration and real-world applicability.
Among the innovations is the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones to enhance surveillance in forests (Practice Abstract: RPAS for stakeholders). Traditionally reliant on trained personnel inspecting trees on the ground, forest pest monitoring has been constrained by time, terrain and resources. RPAS, equipped with hyperspectral, multispectral and thermal cameras, can detect physiological stress in trees caused by pests—even before visible symptoms appear. This technology is especially valuable in detecting sparse infestations and in accessing areas that are difficult to survey on the ground. FORSAID is focusing this approach on two key pests: the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, devastating maritime pine forests in Portugal, and the fungus Ceratocystis platani, which is threatening plane trees in both urban and natural ecosystems across Southern and Central Europe. By enabling earlier detection and faster response, RPAS technology offers forest managers and nursery operators a powerful new tool for targeted, efficient intervention.
Complementing this aerial approach is the use of deep learning-powered neural networks to analyse the vast quantities of remote sensing data generated by drones, aircraft and satellites (Practice Abstract: Neural network for remote sensing). Manually processing these images is time-consuming and requires expert knowledge, but FORSAID’s artificial intelligence models are trained to recognise spectral and textural patterns associated with pest damage. Once trained, these systems can automatically detect similar risks in new areas, making it possible to assess forest health at various scales and over time. This helps answer critical management questions: where vulnerable species like oaks, pines and spruces are located, where damage has occurred and where future outbreaks may arise. These models also form part of a broader digital monitoring system that includes automated insect surveillance devices and environmental DNA analysis, offering an integrated solution to forest health surveillance.
Crucial to the success of these technological tools is meaningful engagement with those who will use them (Practice Abstract: Stakeholders’ involvement and needs). FORSAID is taking a strong multi-actor approach by involving stakeholders from the start. A newly formed Committee of Stakeholders brings together representatives from national plant protection organisations, forest owners, tree nurseries, policy makers and urban green managers. Their role is to help guide research, review digital tools, co-develop deployment strategies and support real-world demonstrations. Consultations with the committee ensure that the tools address practical needs, support decision-making and account for ethical considerations, such as the responsible use of AI. Their input also feeds into cost-benefit analyses that will shape user-friendly, scalable tools fit for long-term adoption.
These developments are part of the broader FORSAID initiative (Practice Abstract: Project presentation), which brings together 17 partners from 10 countries, targeting nine high-risk species—five insects, three fungi and one nematode—and combines aerial sensing, ground-based sensors, DNA technologies and citizen science to protect Europe’s forests from growing pest threats. In doing so, it supports the resilience of vital ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of the many services forests provide—from carbon storage to recreation.
Together, these practice abstracts reflect the project’s ambition to turn innovative science into real-world solutions. By blending digital innovation with stakeholder-driven design, FORSAID is paving the way toward a smarter, more responsive forest monitoring system that can be scaled and sustained across Europe.
Read the full abstracts here.