Forest Digital Learning: how to apply CCF yourself
Introduction:
The ForDiL (Forest Digital Learning) project is part of the European Erasmus + program. It involves partners from Belgium (SRFB, CDAF, ITH), France (UFA Bavay), and the Czech Republic (Mendel University in Brno). The project aims to develop a self-learning application for Continuous Cover Mixed Forestry based on the development of marteloscopes.
What is a marteloscope?
The concept of marteloscopes was originally developed in France. The term is derived from the French word for tree selection ("martelage") and the Greek word "skopein" (to look), which means "to take a closer look" at a selection of trees.
Marteloscopes are generally one-hectare rectangular forest sites where all trees are numbered, mapped and recorded. Their purpose is to carry out thinning simulation exercises during a training day. There are hundreds of marteloscope sites throughout Europe.
Marteloscopes in the ForDiL project
The ForDiL project (2023-2026) will install three new marteloscopes to create a mobile application that will simulate the effects of thinning and guide the learner to understand the choices and mechanisms of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) to maintain or lead his stand towards an irregular structure.
There are currently two applications of this type with an international impact and covering most European countries: I+Trainer (EFI, European Forest Institute) and Sylvothèque (HAFL: Haute école des sciences agronomiques, forestières et alimentaires).
They are, however, driven by different objectives.
I+Trainer
I+Trainer was developed by the Integrate+ project in 2016. This project aims to raise awareness and promote integrative approaches to forest management. Currently, it focuses on education to integrate biodiversity conservation into managed forests. Integrate+ pays particular attention to habitat structures, such as old trees carrying dendromicrohabitats that are often eliminated as defective trees during selective felling and thinning. To find out more: http://iplus.efi.int/software-store.html
Sylvotheque :
Sylvotheque is a new project of the Forestry Department of the Bern University of Applied Sciences HAFL, currently in the development phase.
It's a computer platform for practising thinning in various situations. It includes numerical documentation and photospheres.
Built on the "Google Street View principle," Sylvotheque.ch enables virtual tours through forests. To this end, selected forests are photo-documented and archived over several years. Platform users can visit these forests digitally anytime and from any location. Sylvotheque.ch thus becomes a kind of virtual forest library, opening up entirely new perspectives for foresters.
https://martelage.sylvotheque.ch/
Table summarising the functionalities of the two applications:
Functionality | iTrainer+ | Sylvotheque thinning | ||
Operating system | - | works only on Android OS | + | runs on Android and Apple OS |
installation | - | more complicated installation procedure, including allowing installation from unknown sources - each phone has different settings | + | search and launch simple applications |
download the application in the field | + | download went smoothly | - | downloading on a weak signal is problematic. |
tree map | + | satisfactory, comparable graphics | + | satisfactory, comparable graphics |
tree map legend | - | absent | + | menu with a graphical representation of available tree species |
Zoom on the tree structure | + | yes | + | yes |
list of reasons for removing or retaining trees | - | a narrower range of reasons 5/5 | + | a sufficient range of reasons 10/12 |
graphic highlighting of selected trees, including the distinction between felling and preservation | + | yes, by a colour circle - green to preserve, yellow to harvest | + | yes - trees to be removed are marked with a red cross, trees to be retained are marked with a blue dot |
graphic display of competing trees around the target tree | + | Yes, it is possible to switch the display of the nearest competitors for a specific tree on and off - it will be coloured white on the map. | - | not available |
option to filter by tree ID | + | yes | - | no |
ability to display the qualitative distribution (assortment) of the given tree, including economic parameters | + | yes | - | no |
the possibility of presenting a specific type of microhabitat, including the ecological value of the tree in question | + | yes | - | no |
street view option | - | not available | + | yes, with hemispherical photos |
Forest stand data - before/after tree selection. | + | Standing volume (the volume of each removed tree is missing), basal area, ecological and economic value, and carbon stock are displayed right next to the treemap, with dynamic changes during the selection process. More detailed data are presented in the menu. | - | Densitometric data are available in the application menu (not displayed directly next to the map tree and without dynamic changes). Still, there is no more detailed data on tree species, and there is no significant work on the ecological or economic value of the tree. |
DBH distribution | + | column graph with colour display of tree species represented - 5 cm intervals - before/after intervention and trees removed | + | line graph, colour-coded lines: before/after intervention, target and competitor trees |
harvesting intensity | - | display available but unsuitable for the user | + | available |
protocol with results | + | essential evaluation is directly in the application, and a complete PDF protocol (17 pages) is immediately available. The protocol cannot be shared between participants. | - | Essential evaluation directly in the application, full pdf protocol only for registered users (more difficult in the field), the protocol can be shared between participants (more difficult in the field - for desktop PC only) |
Analysis developed by the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic
Conclusion:
The ForDiL project is not intended to establish a European network on the scale of EFI or Sylvothèque. It is a European Erasmus project with a dual objective:
Share experience between three partner institutions: UFA Bavay (France), ITHCF Gembloux (Belgium), and Mendel University (Czech Republic).
To develop an application enabling all forestry learners to practise thinning independently, in line with Continuous Cover Forest (CCF) principles. This training is carried out on-site on one of the three marteloscopes installed (1 in each country), with the help of the application, which, at the end of the exercise, delivers clear and precise results so that the learner can understand the effects of their thinning and be guided in applying the principles of CCF.
It provides the autonomous aspect that sets this project apart. Unlike other applications, ForDiL will be designed to replace, as far as possible, the trainer who is usually present during thinning training days and provides on-the-spot educational information.
In concrete terms, the aim is to answer the questions foresters ask themselves: "How do I apply CCF when I do a thinning in my forest? "How do I convert my regular forest into an irregular one? "How do I cut to maintain this irregular structure? "How do I manage natural regeneration over several years to diversify and renew my stand?
