There are more than 240 special one-hectare forest sites called marteloscopes in 26 countries that are used for field-based training and education of forestry professionals, students, forest owners, policy makers and even the broader public. Source: Timberbiz
This unique set of sites is brought together by the Integrated Network facilitated by the European Forest Institute (EFI).
In a marteloscope, all trees are numbered and measured, and their locations are mapped. In addition, the sites are inventoried for microhabitats such as cavities, injuries and wounds, deadwood, as well as deformations, bird nests etc, which can serve as shelter or home for different plants and animals.
The information collected in marteloscopes can be used in the Integrate+ Trainer mobile app which has been developed by EFI software developers and researchers.
With the app, users can perform virtual management exercises and compare alternative forest management strategies in the forest.
The user receives immediate feedback from the application on the effects of tree selection on both the harvested and remaining tree stand which illustrates the consequences of different management practices. The app thereby supports in educating its users on integrating biodiversity conservation in managed forests.
In a recent project EFI used the app to enable forest owners to assess the impact of forest management decision on timber production, biodiversity and carbon storage. The app. Now calculates the volume, economic value, biodiversity impacts and carbon balance based on the data from the stand. It also predicts the development of the remaining tree stand after 20 years.
The app is available from Google Play at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=integrate.trainer
