At the beginning of February, the Department of Forest and Wood Science hosted the highly anticipated 7^th international Precision Forestry Symposium: At the Dawn of Artificial Intelligence. The event was organized in partnership with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Division 3 and the Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF).

The symposium brought together global experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge advancements in forestry technology. The three-day event featured keynote speeches and technical presentations highlighting the transformative impact of AI, remote sensing, and UAVs in modern forestry. As a precursor to the event, a dedicated industry day allowed commercial partners to showcase innovative software, drone platforms, and sensors. During the symposium, delegates were also treated to a robotic demo by Dr Callen Fisher from the department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and in-field exhibitions at Delheim wine estate.Discussions focused on AI-driven decision-making, automation in forest management, and the role of precision technology in sustainable timber production. The rise of AI and machine learning are certainly proving to be revolutionary. By processing complex data sets, AI algorithms offer unprecedented actionable insights. From predicting growth patterns to identifying pest outbreaks, AI is empowering forest managers to optimize harvest strategies and improve forest health management.​The event reinforced Stellenbosch's position as a hub for forestry innovation and collaboration. Thanks to the organising (pictured above), scientific committee, sponsors, presenters, and everyone who contributed to making the meeting a great success. Until next time!