Forest ecosystems, forest fire internet of things (FFIoT), and socioeconomic aspects

Abstract

Forests play a significant role in any circular economy strategy aimed at achieving sustainable development, human well-being, and national welfare. Forest fires are responsible for substantial losses in forest ecosystems and the valuable ecosystem services they provide. The Internet of Things (IoT) constitutes a collaborative ecosystem comprising smart devices, networking infrastructure, and advanced processing technologies that work together to create smart environments for end-users. This revolutionary technology ensures continuous access to information and facilitates the integration of people and data, contributing to a greener future. It offers effective methods and substantial technical support for forest and environmental sciences and sustainable forest planning and management. Despite the transformative impact of technology in various sectors, the forestry industry has been slow to embrace digital technologies. IoT can be effectively designed and implemented across all phases of forest fire management, transitioning it from a manual system to a digital one with widespread remote participation and governance. This transformation results in the development of more resilient forest landscapes in the face of climate change and external disasters. Achieving a consensus on measures, including hardware, software, and skill requirements, is crucial for ensuring effective information provision. Additional research methods and approaches are needed to address emerging economic, environmental, and social challenges, and there must be a general agreement on what aspects to measure and how to measure them.