Espoo, Finland 23 May 2023 – CollectiveCrunch, the creator of the AI-powered platform that enables sustainable forestry at scale, has launched a pilot project with the Oregon State University College of Forestry. The collaboration marks CollectiveCrunch’s first forest carbon partnership in the U.S. market, and sets the stage for further growth opportunities for the company.
The College of Forestry, a leading academic institution for the advancement of forestry-related research and science, actively manages 15,000 acres of research forests. The college will compare the data provided by CollectiveCrunch’s carbon measurement tools against existing on-the-ground carbon inventory approaches, to identify opportunities for optimization as it plans for and researches various forest management scenarios.
“CollectiveCrunch’s AI-based Linda Planet solution eliminates the uncertainty and subjectivity associated with forest carbon assessments by providing a scientific and data-driven approach to forest carbon management,” said Rolf Schmitz, Co-Founder of CollectiveCrunch. “Understanding the health and diversity of forests is paramount in ensuring their sustainability. Forests play a critical role in carbon sequestration, acting as a natural solution to combat climate change. By accurately assessing forest carbon storages, land owners can gain insights into the carbon balance of forests, which helps inform forest management and conservation efforts.”
Accurate forest inventory as a foundation for forest health
CollectiveCrunch’s AI-driven platform will provide the College of Forestry with remotely gathered data to inform future forest management decisions. It also has the potential to optimize forest operations while minimizing the impact on the environment. The ability to gain data-driven insights about forests allows for adaptive management strategies that integrate multiple forest values.
“Every activity on the College of Forestry research and demonstration forests is meant to teach us something about the way we actively manage forests for sustainability,” said Tom DeLuca, the Cheryl Ramberg-Ford and Allyn C. Ford dean of the OSU College of Forestry. “Testing new technology like the Linda Planet AI platform and weaving together multiple ways of knowing helps us make more informed decisions about the impacts specific forest management decisions will have, both here in Oregon and around the world.”
From laborious and costly traditional sampling methods to reliable and cost-effective carbon assessments
Linda Planet brings immense value to forest carbon inventory efforts. With existing tools, forest sampling has historically been laborious and costly, and data has not always been comprehensive.
Linda Planet’s advanced AI capabilities offer a more reliable and cost-effective way to assess forest carbon storages, especially in protected forest areas where access can be challenging. The platform provides a more complete and reliable understanding of the carbon sequestration potential of forests, supporting conservation and climate policy efforts.
The collaboration marks a major milestone for CollectiveCrunch in the U.S.
“We are thrilled to partner with Oregon State University for forest carbon inventories, marking our entry into the U.S. market,” said Schmitz. “Our AI-driven platform empowers forest owners with valuable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions for sustainable forest management.”
This partnership between CollectiveCrunch and Oregon State University underscores the growing importance of leveraging AI and data-driven technologies for sustainable forest management, and reasserts CollectiveCrunch’s leadership in the field. With advanced AI-based solutions, CollectiveCrunch is well-positioned to drive positive change in the forestry industry and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.
For more information, please contact:
Co-Founder Rolf Schmitz, CollectiveCrunch, rs@collectivecrunch.com, +49 151 1972 6650
Head of Marketing Karolina Forss, CollectiveCrunch, kaforss@collectivecrunch.com, +358 40 541 2431
Public Information Assistant Irene Schoppy, OSU College of Forestry, forestrycommunications@oregonstate.edu, 541-737-2004
About CollectiveCrunch:
CollectiveCrunch is a global leader in applying artificial intelligence to forestry. The advanced AI-driven platform provides near-real-time insights about forest health, carbon management, and sustainable forest operations. With a strong focus on data-driven decision-making, CollectiveCrunch empowers forest managers to optimize their operations, minimize environmental impact, and contribute to global efforts in addressing climate change. CollectiveCrunch was recently approved by Verra, a non-profit organization that operates the world’s leading carbon crediting program.
About the OSU College of Forestry:
For a century, the College of Forestry has been a world class center of teaching, learning and research. It offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in sustaining ecosystems, managing forests and manufacturing wood products; conducts basic and applied research on the nature and use of forests; and operates more than 15,000 acres of college forests.
