July 29, 2024 – Joensuu, Finland. The innovative method developed by the Finnish partners of the RESDiNET team for detecting bark beetle damage using an airship has garnered significant interest both locally and internationally. In July 2024, the team was interviewed by national news outlets in Finland and Sweden, highlighting the importance and innovation of their work in forest health monitoring.
Dead, grey spruces in Koli National Park: what’s happening?
The iconic Finnish national landscape of Koli National Park has seen an alarming increase in dead, grey spruces. This prompted the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle to reach out to the RESDiNET team for answers. Similarly, Sveriges Television SVT contacted the team to learn more about the airship monitoring method and the extent of bark beetle damage in the renowned national park.
On-site and remote interviews
While the SVT interview was conducted remotely, Yle reporters visited the Koli research site to assess the situation firsthand. They interviewed project researcher Johanna Tuviala from the University of Eastern Finland. She expressed concern over the rapid die-off of spruces, estimating that if the current rate continues, all spruces on Ukko-Koli hill could be dead within five years. Spruces at Ukko-Koli face multiple stress factors, such as crown breakages from heavy snow loads in winter and drought in summer, making them susceptible to bark beetle infestations.
Dramatic increase in dead wood
The volume of dead wood in the park has doubled in one year. In June 2023, the infestation rate was 10 dead trees per hectare, but it has now reached 18 trees per hectare. “With image sensors, we can obtain even more accurate information about the forest than by inspecting trees at ground level,” explained research scientist Emma Turkulainen from the National Land Survey of Finland, department of remote sensing and photogrammetry.
Pioneering airship technology
The Kelluu company’s hydrogen-powered, net-zero emission airship flies over Koli National Park, capturing multispectral images. These images enable RESDiNET researchers to distinguish between healthy, yellow-needled, and dead spruces. The research findings validate the use of hydrogen-powered BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) airships as a pioneering approach to forest health monitoring.
Educational and informative outreach
These groundbreaking results, featured in national news, help achieve one of the project’s primary goals: educating the general public about pest outbreaks and disseminating information about the project’s scientific achievements.
Explore the news coverage:
📰 Ilmastonmuutos iski rajusti Kolin kansallispuistoon: kaikki Ukko-Kolin kuuset vaarassa kuolla kuudessa vuodessa [in Finnish]. Yle Uutiset, 26 July 2024.
📻 Metsiä tuhoava tuholainen kirjanpainaja tekee rajua jälkeä Kolin kansallismaisemassa Lieksassa [in Finnish]. Yle Uutiset, 26 July 2024, 5 PM and 11 PM.
📺 Kolin kansallismaisemasta on tulossa ilmastonmuutoksen suomalaiset kasvot [in Finnish]. Yle Uutiset Uutis-Suomi, 26 July 2024, 6:12 PM and 10:31 PM; Yle Uutiset Itä-Suomi, 26 July 2024, 5:06 PM and 27 July 2024, 11:28 AM.
📺 Suomen metsien pahin tuholainen valtaa alaa Kolin kansallismaisemassa Lieksassa [in Finnish]. Yle Uutiset, 26 July 2024, 5 PM, 8:30 PM, and 10:23 PM.
📺 Så kan granbarkborren bekämpas [in Swedish]. SVT Rapport, 27 July 2024, 6 PM and 7:30 PM. Available until 3 August 2024.
As the RESDiNET project continues to advance forest health monitoring technologies, it not only educates the public but also aims to establish a robust international network for using remote sensing in forest disturbance ecology. This initiative is crucial for protecting forests against bark beetle disturbances in the face of a changing climate, ensuring the preservation of these vital ecosystems for future generations.
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