For example, Aarnibot can help clarify how many and what kind of retention trees must be left per hectare in a clearcut under FSC certification*. Or it can remind how wide a buffer zone for streams is needed in an FSC-certified forest.
AI as a smart partner for sustainability
When forest professionals combine their skills, tacit knowledge and contextual judgment with Aarnibot's ability to surface relevant information and instruction, they can be sure they are meeting environmental and social standards efficiently.
In this way, generative field AI becomes not just an operational assistant but a way to strengthen sustainable forest management and enhance the work carried out by the experts with real-time monitoring, data collection, and compliance verification in the field.
Currently, Aarnibot is used by hundreds of foresters in Finland, but UPM plans to roll out similar AI work coaches across its operations in other countries, signaling a broader transformation in the way field work is done.
Aarnibot puts UPM at the forefront of a growing shift: bringing generative AI into frontline industries. Considering that more than one-third of the world’s forests are used for economic purposes**, advancements in managing forests sustainably and efficiently can have a huge impact.
Tools like Aarnibot hint at a future where intelligent systems operate alongside the forest, turning dense, dynamic ecosystems into spaces of continuous learning and adaptive management. If responsibly developed and aligned with regulatory standards such as FSC, generative AI could become one of the most impactful allies in advancing both sustainable forestry and global climate resilience.
* Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies over 200 million hectares of forest worldwide, ensuring that wood and paper products come from responsibly managed sources.
** More than one-third of the world’s forests are used for economic purposes according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
