Forest information alert service derived from satellite imagery for more efficient and sustainable forest management in Estonia and Latvia

Objective: The objective of the project is to develop the new MyTree Alert service, which combines existing satellite imagery change analysis, e.g. clear cuts, windfalls, fire burnt areas (SIA Modul, LV) and forest asset management (Deskis OU, EE) products into a single integrated web-service for small and big forest owners and forest managing authorities. Project’s background: Forests cover nearly a half of the Estonian and Latvian land territories which is one of the highest levels in EU. The export of wood based products in Latvia and Estonia amounts to 16% and 20% respectively of all exports, being the main pillar of support for local economies and residents. 230 000 private forest owners in Estonia and Latvia manage more around 50% of the forests (2 300 000 ha) together with the public forest companies (another 50% of the forested land). Results of research on private forest potential in Latvia „Assessment of private forest potential contribution to Latvian timber industry 2011 - 2015” show that on average 25% of forest owners, but in big forest estate groups more than 60% of forest owners, do not live on their forest property. The similar situation is present in Estonia according the research “Private Forestry in Estonia”. This is why easy accessible and intuitive forest monitoring system where satellite imagery provides current data about forest properties, detects changes (clear cuts, illegal logging, windfalls, fire burnt areas, growth of new forest, etc.) and presents completely new analytical information on regular basis is highly needed in the modern world. Satellite provides new images weekly which in case of changes listed above is critical to big number of forest owners in Latvia and Estonia. Similar management challenges are present in other European countries. More accurate management of the forest with satellite imagery will provide growth and development of forest industry causing economic benefits for regional development, growth of employment in the forestry sector and increasing the value of exported timber. Cross-border nature: Partnering of SIA Modul (LV) and Deskis OU (EE) will provide actual forest data services by a joint development of the new MyTree Alert Service. Both companies will benefit from the cooperation by taking benefit of each other’s knowledge and competencies – SIA Modul’s satellite data analytics skills and Deskis OU’s competencies in forest management geographic information systems (GIS) services. By working together, it will be possible to obtain bigger market share and achieve competitive advantage together representing each other’s products and services and promoting and supporting each other when entering Latvian and Estonian markets and during the next 1-2 years - Scandinavian market. The Baltic countries are usually considered as one economic region and many large forest management companies work in all 3 countries or even in the whole Nordic region. Therefore it is important to have a common solution for large territories. New geospatial technologies and satellite imagery provides this opportunity without constraints across the borders. Joint stakeholders meetings and seminars with private and public forest owners organised as joint marketing activities within the EstLat programme’s project is very important to support more efficient policy making among neighbouring countries, exchanging lessons learnt and evaluate the benefits of the new service. A country-wide forest monitoring service could be provided to governmental entities on a quarterly and yearly reporting basis. The project will play an important role in both countries to address forest governance issues as well as help to design common strategies for efficient and sustainable forest management in all levels of forest industry. Furthermore, the project scope may support National Forest Policies and Governance by addressing the Pan – European Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management such as forest area, growing stock, forest carbon, forest damage, forest land degradation and managed natural resources against natural hazards. Main activities: Our proposal focuses on commercial forest services utilizing an end-to-end space-to-product development. In order to achieve the objective the following activities will be realised by both partners: 1. Development of a feasibility study; 2. Development of web application for easy access to MyTree Alert Service; 3. Integration of MyTree Alert Service into various market applications; 4. Marketing and dissemination of the new service and project results with a help of forestry support organisations in Latvia and Estonia.

The recently launched service www.forestman.eu provides forest application with integrated satellite monitoring allowing automated analysis of land use changes for individual forest owners and forestry companies. The new service provides: the best forest data - the application has integrated access to available forestry data and maps, it covers Estonia and Latvia to manage your forests and share forestry data with your partners easily, integrated satellite monitoring, mobile application of the service accompanied with the use of GPS-position and navigation while in the field which allows users to know exactly where they are in the forest and create on-map notes. Cooperation with State Forest Services (Forest Cadaster Registrars), Cadaster Authorities and Geospatial Information Agencies were realized in order to provide accurate data coming directly from the data source and very much valued among users of the ForestMan service. As a result of marketing activities, more than 300 customers have registered for the ForestMan account.

Two entrepreneurs Modul SIA and Deskis OU will carry out joint MyTree Alert service development and joint marketing activities which will lead to long term cooperation of both companies, knowledge sharing, joint actions and new MyTree Alert service developed for Latvian and Estonian markets and later on for Scandinavian market. Cooperation between Modul SIA and Deskis OU and public forest management support structures will support innovation processes (e.g. including introduction of advanced space technology applications into entrepreneurial and public administration processes related to forest industry) for more efficient forest management. Joint marketing activities such as feasibility study, joint B2B on-site meetings with big forest owners and forest management authorities, contact events with wide public and private forest industry including forest associations, participation at exhibitions, development of marketing materials, acquiring access to relevant forest industry databases and markets will help both companies to attract many customers and found bases for the successful business development. Both participating SMEs have their own functioning product and service already which will be used as a bases for development of the new MyTree Alert service to support sustainability and competitiveness of both SMEs in providing new business opportunities. The planned cooperation is clearly foreseen and agreed by both partners when defining the project activities, tasks, responsibilities and developing further maintenance plans of the achievements after the project.