Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Long-term, forward-thinking forest management is essential due to the extended rotation periods in forests, from planting to harvesting. Forest owners, foresters, and forestry contractors rely on a range of digital applications and advanced forestry technologies in their daily work. These tools allow them to make informed, data-driven decisions, enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and resource-friendliness of forest area recording, planning, and management.
Given the rapidly changing environmental conditions and increasing demands on forests, the United Nations’ State of the World’s Forests 2024 report emphasizes the need for greater innovation in the forestry sector. “Innovations not only enhance the competitiveness of our forestry companies, but they also form the foundation for sustainable timber production, secure jobs in rural areas, and play a crucial role in adapting our forests to climate change,” says Christian Haase, President of the German Forestry Council. “As an umbrella organisation representing the interests of approximately two million private and municipal forest owners in Germany, I look forward to discussing the industry’s current developments and future prospects during the opening talk at INTERFORST.”
In light of rapidly changing environmental conditions and growing demands on forests, the United Nations’ State of the World’s Forests 2024 report stresses the importance of increased innovation within the forestry sector. Christian Haase, President of the German Forestry Council, explains, “Innovations not only boost the competitiveness of our forestry companies but also lay the groundwork for sustainable timber production, create jobs in rural areas, and are vital for adapting our forests to climate change.” He adds, “As the umbrella organization representing around two million private and municipal forest owners in Germany, I look forward to addressing the industry’s current challenges and future prospects during the opening talk at INTERFORST.”
Forestry and timber industry—closely interlinked
Healthy forests of the future ensure a sustainable wood supply. Wood is a climate-friendly raw material that stores carbon from the atmosphere in the long term. Compared to fossil fuels and recyclable materials, such as concrete, steel, or plastic, wood is ecologically valuable and requires less energy to produce. Wood is used in many different ways as a product (e.g. building material, furniture, musical instruments) or as a source of energy.
“As a leading trade fair for the Central European region, INTERFORST offers a comprehensive overview of the market and presents innovations and trends relating to the healthy forest of the future—from forest establishment and management to wood processing,” says Exhibition Director Petra Westphal, summing up. Many exhibitors from Germany and abroad will be showcasing pioneering innovations: digital applications, drone technology, LiDAR-supported data acquisition, intelligent sensor technology, AI-based analyses, and robotic and autonomous solutions. In the compact machinery segment, Uniforest, EiFo Forsttechnik and Köppl, among others, will be presenting their innovative solutions for modern forestry. In the heavy machinery segment, well-known manufacturers such as Log Max, Haas Nutzfahrzeuge and Waldburg Forstmaschinen will be represented at INTERFORST.
The aim is to achieve a circular economy in which wood is used as efficiently as possible through reuse and avoiding waste. In cascading use, the valuable log is used for the construction and furniture industry. This is followed by several recycling steps that keep the wood in use for as long as possible until it is finally used for energy production. The forestry and timber industry, with its various players, therefore lives what other sectors strive: It’s a genuine circular model.
With SYSTEMS & COMPONENTS Forestry by DLG in Hall B6, INTERFORST is adding modern systems and advanced components that increase efficiency, sustainability and performance in forestry technology to its portfolio. This provides clear added value for B2B visitors as well as OEM designers and developers: compact insights into available technologies, better networking and faster innovation processes—all in one place.
Focus on healthy forests of the future in the forum and congress program
At the INTERFORST forum, the “Climate-positive forestry” working group will present a lecture on the topic of “Forest Ambassadors – Forests of the Future.” The Bavarian State Institute for Forests and Forestry will also be at the forum, showcasing the second volume of the practical guide “Klima – Boden – Baumartenwahl” (Climate—Soil—Tree Species Selection). During the congress, Dr. Joachim Hamberger, Head of the Bavarian Office for Forest Genetics, will discuss “Solutions for Climate-Stable Forests of the Future.” Additionally, Dr. Ferdinand von Plettenberg, Project Manager at wpd Onshore, will present on “New Sources of Income for Forestry Operations (Wind Energy in Forests).”
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Tags: digitalisation, forest products, Forestry, high-tec solutions, INTERFORST, technology
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