A research initiative based in New Brunswick is utilizing satellite imaging and artificial intelligence to locate and predict the presence of old forests. The primary aim is to enhance forestry sector management practices. Spearheaded by the Northern Hardwoods Research Institute and supported by the Canadian Space Agency, the project operates from its facility in Edmundston. Through regular satellite data collection over forested regions, the team seeks to equip forestry managers with tools to safeguard old forests hosting intricate ecosystems vital for certain species’ survival.
Gaetan Pelletier, the institute’s executive director, emphasized the significance of these unique ecosystems and the current lack of technology to identify them proactively before logging activities commence. The use of satellites with multiple sensors enables the tracking of various forest elements such as dead trees, windfalls, and hollow trees serving as habitats for specific species. Among the species reliant on old forests, the chimney swift stands out, known for occupying chimneys in urban settings or hollow trees in natural habitats. Pelletier highlighted the critical role of old forests as habitats for this species.
The project aims to gather two layers of data through satellite technology: one to identify extensive forested regions likely to contain hollow trees and another to pinpoint specific hollow trees. Future plans involve integrating live maps into harvester machines’ navigation systems based on this data. This would allow for the marking of trees potentially harboring species like chimney swifts and brown bats, enabling foresters to take appropriate conservation measures.
The research, anticipated to last 18 to 24 months, aims to provide testing solutions by March 2026. The team targets the completion of prototype map data by the following autumn, intended for use by foresters throughout New Brunswick. This project, one of 20 nationwide initiatives supported by the Canadian Space Agency, received a $250,000 grant, with an estimated total project cost of $500,000 for the Northern Hardwoods Research Institute.
