Work Package 2

Work Package 2 is led by the University of Jyväskylä and focuses on identifying and understanding Europe’s most ecologically valuable and carbon-rich forests. The team is developing advanced tools and models to monitor biodiversity and carbon storage across different forest types and regions. By combining satellite images, historical aerial photos, and ground-based fieldwork, they aim to detect forests that have remained largely untouched by human activity. These areas are often home to high biodiversity and play a key role in storing carbon.

The project will also use artificial intelligence and species distribution models to link forest structure, biodiversity, and climate data. This will help create detailed maps of biodiversity and carbon stocks across Europe. The work will improve how we monitor forest health and will support efforts to protect primary and old-growth forests as well as other high conservation value areas.