As far as the digital transformation is concerned, the Swedish forestry is undergoing this transformation with rapid changes. Mellanskog, one of Sweden’s leading forest owner associations, has announced a radical technological leap for its digital platform, Skogstorget. By integrating cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced remote sensing technology, the platform now provides forest owners with a “Digital Twin” of their land—offering a level of detail previously only achievable through time-consuming manual inventories.
For decades, forest management relied heavily on physical inspections and historical growth charts. However, as climate volatility increases and the demand for sustainable timber rises, the need for real-time, high-fidelity data has become paramount.
The updated Forest Overview feature within Skogstorget utilises satellite imagery and laser scanning (LiDAR) processed through AI algorithms. This creates a digital replica of the forest that tracks:
- Tree species composition: Identifying the mix of pine, spruce, and deciduous trees with high granularity.
- Volume and biomass: Calculating the standing timber volume to assist in economic forecasting.
- Growth development: Monitoring how the forest matures over seasons and years.
A “Digital Twin” is more than just a map; it is a dynamic virtual model that reacts to real-world changes. This technology allows owners in Central Sweden to visualise their holdings from their desktop or mobile device with startling clarity.
“It’s not just about better numbers, but about a more vivid and reliable picture of one’s own forest,” says Henrik Boström, Head of Development and E-Commerce at Mellanskog. “It strengthens planning, dialogue, and decision-making support for sustainable forestry.”
This digital transparency ensures that the dialogue between the forest owner and their forestry inspector is based on the same high-quality data, reducing the risk of administrative errors and optimising the timing of harvests or thinnings.
One of the most significant advantages of this AI-integrated system is its frequency of updates. Traditional forest plans can often become outdated as soon as a storm occurs or a specific stand is thinned.
Mellanskog’s new system ensures that as trees grow or as felling operations are completed, the digital record reflects those changes. This “Living Forest Plan” is essential for:
- Efficiency: Targeted clearing and thinning save time and fuel.
- Sustainability: Precise data allows for better conservation of biodiversity-rich areas.
- Climate resilience: Quick identification of forest health issues, such as bark beetle infestations or drought stress.
Skogstorget serves as the “command center” for the modern forest owner. Beyond the AI-powered visual data, the platform integrates several critical functions into a single interface:
Feature Description Action Proposals AI-generated suggestions for when to clear, thin, or harvest. Forest Economics Direct access to accounts, wood certificates, and financial overviews. Digital Ordering The ability to order forestry services, such as clearing, directly through the app. Interactive Maps High-resolution layers showing boundaries, terrain, and moisture maps.
Mellanskog’s territory spans across a vast portion of Central Sweden, encompassing diverse terrains from the plains of Uppland to the rugged forests of Värmland and Dalarna. By making this technology available to all members, Mellanskog is democratising access to high-tech forestry tools that were once the exclusive domain of large industrial players.
The combination of Mellanskog’s deep silvicultural expertise and modern machine learning ensures that the “right decision for the future” is no longer a matter of guesswork. It is a data-driven strategy that protects both the economic value of the timber and the ecological value of the Swedish landscape.
As the forestry sector faces increasing pressure to contribute to the bioeconomy while protecting natural carbon sinks, tools like Skogstorget are no longer “nice to have”—they are essential. For the forest owners of Central Sweden, the future of forestry is here, and it is digital, precise, and more vivid than ever before.
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