How can we manage forests when the future is uncertain? That’s the challenge facing the scientists behind IUFRO’s Division 4: Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management. In the latest episode of Branching Out: the forest podcast, Co-Coordinators Bianca Eskelson and Don Hodges describe the world of forest data, what it can tell us, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Division 4 plays a critical role in helping us understand how forests grow, change, and respond to disturbance, from insects and wildfires to droughts and climate stress. It bridges traditional forest science with cutting-edge technologies like remote sensing, LiDAR, and AI. Data help us plan and we need to focus on resources that can be applied. 

Listeners will hear how big data supports forest management plans, how simulation tools offer glimpses of alternative futures, and why uncertainty and local knowledge still matter. Bianca quotes George Box: “All models are wrong, but some are useful”. Don explains how this Division’s work even stretches into forest economics and employment, addressing global shifts in value chains and green jobs.  

One of the most exciting takeaways? The emergence of AI in forest science. A new IUFRO Task Force, AI for Forest Science, is exploring how machine learning, autonomous sensing, and causal inference could transform how we monitor, predict, and manage forest landscapes. 

This episode unpacks the power and limitations of modelling the future of forests. Because while we can’t collect data from tomorrow, we can prepare for it, thoughtfully and collaboratively. Presented by Jose Bolaños (IUFRO HQ) and Nele Römer (IFSA). 

Tune in to Branching Out: the forest podcast! Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or on our website, and don't forget to follow us!