Recent reports from FGR’s Precision Silviculture Programme showcase innovation across the forestry value chain, from nursery propagation and seedling establishment through to silvicultural operations and advanced digital forest management. Together, these projects demonstrate how data, automation, and human-centred technology are being combined to improve productivity, sustainability, and operational performance.
At the nursery and establishment stage, research is delivering new insights into how environmental conditions influence seedling performance. An ongoing study from the BSI has established an integrated suite of monitoring platforms to better understand greenhouse microclimates and nursery production environments. Microsite differences in temperature, humidity, light and root-zone conditions within a single greenhouse were linked to variations in seedling growth and root development, providing a pathway for more precise, data-driven nursery management and future decision-support tools. A recent industry nursery survey also highlighted rooting, mother plant management and environmental variability as key industry challenges, reinforcing the value of modular monitoring platforms and technology-enabled nursery systems. In the establishment space, hydrogel research investigated ways to improve radiata pine seedling survival under drought conditions, helping support extended planting windows and mechanised planting systems.
Further along the value chain, the PSP is addressing workforce wellbeing and productivity through the evaluation of exoskeleton technologies for silvicultural operations. The pruning study identified sustained arm elevation, repetitive cutting motions and trunk loading as significant injury risks. While exoskeletons are not a universal solution, the research showed that lightweight passive systems have potential to reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal strain when carefully matched to forestry tasks and environments. The work demonstrates a strong focus on practical, worker-centred innovation.
At the forest management stage, precision forestry technologies continue to advance rapidly. VirtualPlot and SilvaCloud now incorporate machine learning, UAV imagery and LiDAR analytics to automate nursery assessments, regeneration monitoring, thinning detection, stocking calculations, gap analysis and thinning prescriptions. These tools transform large volumes of forest data into actionable insights that support planning, inventory management and operational decision-making.
Innovation being delivered through the Precision Silviculture Programme spans the entire forestry value chain. From smarter nursery systems and improved seedling establishment, through safer silvicultural practices, to AI-enabled forest assessment and management. This work is supporting a shift towards a more productive, resilient and technology-enabled forestry sector.
Below are the links to the publications highlighted in this article:
Vegetative Precision Propagation: Imaging Technologies Year 2 Final Report
Vegetative Precision Propagation: Sensor Platform Year 2 Final Report
Targeted exoskeleton adoption for silvicultural tasks (Pruning)
