Key technological innovations in silviculture

Existing technologies are continuously refined and improved, while new technologies are also being developed across the silviculture forest value chain. Technological advancements in silviculture may have a significant impact on tree survival, growth, and uniformity, which are crucial considerations for forest sustainability. The drivers of technology with a focus on South Africa and Brazil are described. Furthermore, existing, emerging, and future silviculture technologies are defined based on existing literature and expert forecasts. It is essential to acknowledge that the future is unknown to everyone; however, although this chapter does not attempt to predict the future, it will utilise existing knowledge to simulate possible future outcomes of how technology may evolve in the years to come. This is essential information for decision-makers within the forestry industry to plan and adapt to forthcoming changes strategically.