As we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, it's worth highlighting that data helps us make smarter decisions in our daily forest operations. We believe that sustainable forestry must be rooted in evidence and robust data, and to this end, we leverage biodiversity data in many ways. Here’s how we measure and improve our impact on biodiversity across our forest operations.
From creating deadwood to protecting sensitive habitats
We are using selected indicators for enhancing biodiversity in our forests in the Nordics and in plantations in South America. With these metrics, we are able to assess how well we mitigate negative impacts and promote biodiversity during harvesting. Read more about the indicators:
- Biodiversity impact indicators
- Long-term biodiversity indicators
- Biodiversity indicators for plantations
Our six impact indicators are key for developing our operations: they depict how well we are able to preserve biodiversity in harvesting and are reported annually in our sustainability report. To harmonise and streamline data collection, we have developed a mobile app for biodiversity monitoring. After harvesting, our experts audit selected sites and gather field-level data through the app to monitor for instance dead wood creation, soil and water protection, and habitat preservation. These metrics are harmonized across Finland, Sweden, and the Baltics, making the data comparison and use more efficient. In 2024, we audited approximately 1,000 harvesting sites. Read more on how we did in our news article earlier this year.
From Precision Forestry to Forest Digital Twin
Precision Forestry is Stora Enso's data-driven approach to forest management, integrating advanced technologies like AI, satellite imagery, drones, and harvester data to optimize forest operations. This method enables the creation of a Forest Digital Twin, a virtual replica of the forest, that consolidates multiple data layers into a single, comprehensive platform. This allows us to recognize for example tree species, tree height and diameter, and wood stock volume in the forest, as well as potential forest damages. Read more on precision forestry and forest management.
From collaboration to measurable actions
Based on the opportunities of the Forest Digital Twin, we are developing and piloting a science-based framework to verify and forecast impacts on biodiversity. Partnering with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this pioneering framework allows us to identify valuable habitats, model how different forestry actions impact selected species, and adapt our actions accordingly. This targeted approach enables forestry and biodiversity management on a more detailed level – and ultimately it enables management of biodiversity and wood production side by side.
Data that bridges business and biodiversity
This is what sustainable development looks like in practice: using knowledge to balance the needs of people and the planet. It enables us to increase efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and identify ways to support biodiversity on and around our sites. Simply put, data allows us to work in harmony with nature, finding practical solutions that benefit both business and biodiversity.
Explore More
To learn more about our biodiversity indicators and actions, visit our pages on biodiversity and biodiversity management.
