Not Just a Forest: AI Powers Smarter Forestry in Perm, Russia
Perm’s municipal forestry service is preparing to deploy artificial intelligence to monitor forests. The new system will process drone data to detect waste dumps, logging violations, tree health, and even the impact of human recreation. The initiative reflects a broader global trend in the digital transformation of forestry—one where Russia is rapidly catching up.
AI Takes Root in Forest Protection
Nearly 72% of Perm Krai is forested, including almost half of the city of Perm itself. Effective environmental monitoring is critical here. While GIS systems and digital databases are already in use, current data processing requires significant time and human effort. AI offers automation by analyzing aerial imagery to quickly identify illegal landfills, deforestation, diseased trees, and overused hiking trails—helping to reduce human impact on ecosystems.
This marks not just an ecological breakthrough for Russia, but a technological one. If successful, Perm’s model could be scaled nationwide and drive domestic innovation in AI-based environmental monitoring.
Making Forests Smarter
Perm launched its first AI forestry system in 2020 under the 'Smart Forest' program, applying neural networks to monitor tree felling and timber movement. The country has since advanced similar initiatives.
In 2021, Innopolis and Innogeotech introduced satellite surveillance across 12.4 million hectares of forest. Their neural network identified clear-cuts, fire zones, storm damage, quarries, and tree disease areas—analyzing 1,500 hectares per minute with 98% accuracy.
By 2023, AI began forecasting wildfire risks. In 2024, Buryatia and Amur regions reported AI detection of illegal logging to be 62% faster and 12% more accurate than traditional methods.
In 2025, under Russia’s 'Data Economy' project, regions began receiving multispectral drone imagery to assess forest conditions. Perm’s new initiative builds on these successes by targeting urban forestry ecosystems. If it proves effective, the system could evolve into a SaaS export—especially for countries with vast forests and limited monitoring capacity.
Sustainability Through Smart Management
The adoption of AI in forestry reflects an unavoidable shift toward digital transformation. Success will depend on data integration, legal frameworks, and technological infrastructure. Future systems must merge satellite, drone, and ground-based data into unified monitoring platforms.
Perm’s project is expected to refine its methods over the next two years, with potential scaling to other regions through 2029. By 2030, AI-driven forest systems could integrate into smart city programs and international environmental initiatives.
This experiment positions Perm as a pioneer in sustainable urban forest management—one that may reshape how ecosystems are monitored and protected on a global scale.
