Reflections from the Swedish Biodiversity Symposium 2025

In October, I participated in the Swedish Biodiversity Symposium in Gothenburg – a very interesting event featuring fascinating panels and research presentations. The session on AI was particularly rewarding. Although the focus was primarily on biodiversity, there were striking similarities to the discussions within Mistra Digital Forest.

At the symposium, one of the most thought-provoking sessions highlighted how digital technologies, including AI, are reshaping the landscape for the conservation and management of biodiversity. The session ‘Virtual Worlds: Digital Technologies in Climate and Biodiversity Conservation’, brought researchers and practitioners together, to discuss both the opportunities and the risks associated with this transformation.

Digital tools: New frontiers in biodiversity monitoring

From satellites and drones to eDNA and digital twins of the ocean, the presentations demonstrated how digital technologies enable more precise and scalable monitoring methods. These tools are not only revolutionising species detection and ecosystem mapping, but are also improving warning systems for invasive species as well as supporting ecological restoration.

Within forestry, similar technologies are already being explored in Mistra Digital Forest – using remote sensing and AI to monitor forest health, carbon stocks and connectivity. The parallels are clear; whether it is in marine environments or in boreal forests, digital tools offer new ways of understanding and managing complex ecosystems.

AI: From data to decision-making

Several speakers emphasised the role of AI in synthesising vast amounts of data, from genetic information to climate models, in order to support decision-making. However, as Sonja Aits from Lund University reminded us: data is not the same as information. The challenge lies in interpreting fragmented sources, and in ensuring that AI systems are transparent, inclusive and grounded in ecological realities.

This is highly relevant to forest management, where AI can help bridge the gaps between biodiversity, climate policy and socio-economic goals. But it also raises questions. Who owns the data? What about its quality? How should it be interpreted, and by whom?

Justice, visibility and indigenous perspectives

Juliana Porsani’s presentation served as a stark reminder that digital technologies are not neutral. For indigenous peoples and local communities, they can be tools for visibility and influence – but they can also be the source of tension and control. Consequently, the digital transition must be guided by principles of justice, pluralism and co-creation.

In forest environments, where indigenous and local knowledge is deeply embedded, this is particularly relevant. Mistra Digital Forest has the opportunity to take the lead in ensuring that digital innovation supports, rather than replaces, the diversity of knowledge systems.

Conclusion: A shared agenda for responsible innovation

The symposium clearly demonstrated that digital technologies hold enormous potential for biodiversity conservation, but only if they are developed and used responsibly. For Mistra Digital Forest, this means continuing to explore AI and digital tools, not merely as technical solutions, but as part of a broader shift in management.

The forestry sector is uniquely positioned to contribute to this agenda by integrating ecological, technological and social dimensions. Going forward, it is not simply about what digital tools are capable of doing, but rather about how we use them, and who gets to shape the future.

Camilla Sandström

Process leader social sustainability and professor of political science at Umeå University