Webinar Series “Sustainable Forestry Operations for the Bioeconomy”: Sustainable Timber Harvesting Systems and Operations
The future of sustainable wood supply lies in addressing the growing gap between demand and supply through a balanced integration of productivity and sustainability.
On 13 March 2026, a total of 130 participants from 39 countries joined the webinar on sustainable timber harvesting organized by IUFRO’s Research Group on Forest Ergonomics and Division 3, and hosted by Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. The webinar featured two speakers, Lauri Sikanen and Mauricio Acuna, both from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE).
The context of the webinar is rooted in the global challenge of achieving sustainability in forest resource management. With increasing demand for timber and forest-based products, there is a need to balance economic production with ecological conservation and social well-being.
The Nordic region, especially Finland, is often regarded as a benchmark for sustainable forestry due to its long history of scientifically managed forests, strong institutional frameworks, and integration into global markets. Therefore, the webinar served as a case-based learning opportunity, where Finland’s forest management model was presented as a reference for other countries, including Thailand, which are seeking to improve their own wood supply systems.
Additionally, the meeting functioned as a platform for interdisciplinary discussion, linking forestry science, engineering, and socio-economic considerations. It highlighted not only the technical aspects of timber harvesting systems but also broader sustainability dimensions, including ecological balance, economic efficiency, social equity, and cultural values.
Key issues addressed:
Rising global demand and supply challenges: A significant gap between future wood demand and current supply requires increased harvesting capacity and expansion into more complex operating environments, making efficient and scalable systems essential
Balancing productivity with multi-dimensional sustainability: Sustainable wood supply must integrate ecological, economic, social, and cultural dimensions, with ongoing trade-offs such as maintaining biodiversity while ensuring continuous timber production
Increasing complexity of forest management and supply chains: Fragmented forest ownership, small harvesting sites, and logistical challenges require highly coordinated planning and efficient value chain management
Digital transformation and Forestry 5.0 as key enablers: The adoption of AI, big data analytics, IoT, and automation is transforming forestry into a data-driven, optimized system across the entire value chain
Advances in precision forestry and operational technologies: Emerging tools such as LiDAR, real-time sensors, and optimization models improve decision-making, operational efficiency, and environmental performance
Human and institutional challenges in transformation: Labour shortages, urbanization, high investment costs, and resistance to change remain key barriers, highlighting that sustainable forestry requires both technological innovation and social adaptation
In conclusion, the webinar highlights that the future of sustainable wood supply lies in addressing the growing gap between demand and supply through a balanced integration of productivity and sustainability. While Finland demonstrates that sustained yield forestry is achievable, the sector increasingly faces complex trade-offs across ecological, economic, and social dimensions. At the same time, the transition toward Forestry 5.0driven by AI, automation, and data analytics emerges as a critical pathway to improve efficiency, precision, and decision-making across the forest value chain.
However, technological advancement alone is insufficient; structural challenges such as fragmented ownership, labor shortages, and resistance to change must also be addressed. Ultimately, sustainable forestry is evolving into a dynamic, system wide process that requires continuous innovation, stakeholder engagement, and adaptation to both environmental and societal pressures.
The next webinar will be on the topic of “Forest Machinery Development and Automation“, on Friday, 24 April 2026. 13.30 (GMT+7) / 8.30 (UTC+3) / 9.30 (UTC+2)
Report by: Nopparat Kaakkurivaara, Coordinator of Research Group 3.03.00 – Forest ergonomics
Source: IUFRO
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