Foresight and Information

Head of Programme: Lauri Hetemäki


The Foresight and Information (INFORS) programme consists of two strategic areas: foresight and information services. 

Foresight

Foresight is a future-oriented activity. In a general level, foresight is considered to encompass a range of approaches that combine three components:

  1. futures (scenarios, forecasting, forward thinking)
  2. planning (strategic analysis, priority setting)
  3. networking (participatory, dialogue) tools and orientations

Foresight has become widely used also in the forest sector in recent years, particularly in the face of the rapidly changing world and uncertainties: such as those related to climate change, energy questions, and globalisation. Moreover, policy and strategy processes like the European forest strategy, national forest, environment and bioenergy policies, or visions for the European Forest-based Sector (FTP) are essentially based on views and goals of future developments. Systematic foresight analysis and information can be a central supporting tool for this type of objective.

In the European forest sector context, the INFORS foresight work seeks to contribute under the following general questions:

  1. Where do current changes appear to be taking the European forest sector in the coming decade(s)?
  2. What kind of future is generally preferred for the European forest sector?
  3. What are the trade-offs, and how much leverage do we have to bring about the future we prefer for the European forest sector?

The INFORS programme carries out research, policy support and networking activities related to the above general questions, but within a context of more focused topics. For example, it advances research in the foresight methods development, and applications of these methods to areas such as: European forest products markets; outlook for new forest-related products and services; and implications of forest, environmental and bioenergy polices for the European forest sector.

Information services

The information services function supports platforms, software and model development, and information products and services, such as forest maps, databases, expert directories. For example, the function is responsible for the EUROFOREST internet portal, which provides news and links to extensive information on European forests and the forest sector.

The programme also maintains and develops competencies in tools and methodologies which enable international comparisons and future projections in strategic research issues. For example, development and application of the European Forest Information Scenario Model ( EFISCEN) in collaboration with Alterra (Netherlands) has taken place over many years. The information services function is also helping to build key infrastructures within the European forest-based sector, including databases, state-of-the-art analytical tools and predictive models that will be integrated and made available via a user-friendly, central access portal. This work is part of the large EU project 'Designing trees for the Future' ( Trees4Future). 

In addition, the information function carries out academic and applied research and development on information methods and services, in particularly, on forest Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) technology and its applications to monitoring forests.

Unit’s activities

Foresight
Information
Research-oriented IT

For projects under Foresight and Information Programme, see Project Database

For staff in the Foresight and Information Programme, see staff pages