On May 5 and 6, the city of Burgos (Castile and León) will host the First International Congress on Forestry Digitalization (Cidifor), an event organized as part of the RetechFOR project, which aims to establish itself as the leading national forum for innovation and digital transformation in the forestry sector.
The conference will be held at the Forum Evolución – Burgos Conference Center and Municipal Auditorium, an iconic venue that will bring together public administrations, forest managers and landowners, universities and research centers, technology companies, industry professionals, and members of the public interested in learning about the most significant advances in forestry digitization over the course of two days.
A space for sharing knowledge and innovative solutions
Cidifor aims to disseminate the progress and results of the RetechFOR project, while fostering an environment for technical exchange that enables the sharing of experiences, best practices, and technological developments aimed at more efficient, sustainable, and resilient forest management.
The conference’s scientific program will be organized around three main thematic areas. First, disruptive enabling technologies in forest resource management, addressing the role of digitalization, sensor technology, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and data analysis as key tools for decision-making.
Second, the project will examine innovative solutions for preventing and combating wildfires and other environmental disasters, including monitoring tools, predictive modeling, and sustainable land management.
Finally, the conference will devote significant attention to promoting economic activity in the primary and secondary forestry sectors, with a focus on the bioeconomy, the sustainable use of forest resources, and the creation of opportunities in rural areas.
Promoting the digital transformation of the forestry sector
With this inaugural edition, Cidifor aims to become a permanent hub for technology, science, and forest management, helping to accelerate the sector’s digital transformation and strengthen its strategic role in environmental sustainability and regional development.
It should be noted that the call for scientific and technical contributions in the form of conference papers is now open, and the Scientific Committee responsible for evaluating them has been established. In the coming days, the detailed program will be released, along with information on the various ways professionals, organizations, and companies interested in participating in this international conference can get involved.
About RetechFOR
The RetechFOR project—the Technological and Territorial Network for Forest Monitoring and Environmental Disaster Mitigation as Levers for the Development of the Forest Bioeconomy—is one of the initiatives of the RETECH program (Territorial Networks for Technological Specialization), a tool launched by the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. RetechFOR is being developed by the Regional Government of Castile and León and the Government of the Canary Islands. The consortium also includes the technology centers AIR INSTITUTE, CARTIF, Cesefor, CTME, ITAGRA, and ITCL; the Universities of León (ULE) and Valladolid (UVa); and the companies LUCE and VEXIZA. This initiative is part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Next Generation EU funds. The project budget totals 28.45 million euros, with 75% co-financed by the European Union and 25% by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and the Canary Islands.
RetechFOR aims to digitize and transform the forestry sector through the use of advanced technologies that enable the monitoring of the natural environment and the prevention of environmental disasters by improving forest management and fire prevention, while also strengthening the local economy and reducing the carbon footprint.
To address this transformation, a technology consortium is being formed to oversee the implementation of the most significant digital developments and solutions, for which a budget of 9,453,709 euros has been allocated.
For more information: https://retechfor.es
