Smart sourcing of the past dynamic trends to understand the future of riparian forests Together

Innovative technologies offer an entirely new perspective on monitoring future tree growth and physiological status! Scientists eagerly anticipate the moment when all that high-resolution data becomes available for cutting-edge analysis. Until then, predicting the dynamics of forest growth and vitality in evolving climate conditions relies solely on understanding the impacts that environmental conditions have had in the past. Therefore, the efforts of forest managers to sustain biodiversity and maintain the ecological function of riparian forests require examining past relationships to complement the establishment of an intelligent monitoring system.

To unravel past growth dynamics and conduct environmentally sensitive growth modelling, we collected tree core samples at each selected site in the spring of 2025. Sample cores are taken at breast height from selected dominant trees in the vicinity of trees with attached dendrometers. The candidate trees for sampling were visually assessed before coring, and only healthy trees without visible injuries were selected for sampling. Coring was performed using a 5.15 mm wide, two-threaded increment borer of sufficient length to reach the geometric centre of the trunk.

The integration of dendrochronological investigation with IoT-based monitoring systems represents a comprehensive approach designed to enhance understanding and support management decisions.