FPWG Workshop in Spring on Forest Phenotyping
This is a report of the 2026 FPWG Workshop in Spring on Forest Phenotyping, a series of academic activities initiated and organized by the IPPN Forest Phenotyping Working Group and hosted by Nanjing Forestry University (NJFU). The workshop consists of two sequential events, a field exchange symposium conducted on May 17, 2026 at NJFU Xiashu Forest Farm and an indoor academic research seminar held on May 18, 2026.
These serial workshop events gathered leading international researchers from China, Canada and Norway, covering multi-disciplinary fields including forest phenotyping, remote sensing, geomatics, smart forestry and artificial intelligence. The series aimed to share cutting-edge research advances, practical field technologies and innovative research methodologies, while building a solid platform for international academic communication and collaborative research.
Summary
The first phase was a targeted field exchange workshop at NJFU Xiashu Forest Farm. The activity began with a systematic introduction to the historical development and current construction of Xiashu Practice Study and Research Forest. Experts from the University of British Columbia (UBC) shared advanced theories and practical applications of geomatics and smart forestry. All participants conducted on-site visits to the forest permanent inventory plots and the high-throughput tree phenotyping platform, conducting in-depth interactive discussions on field phenotyping monitoring, forest resource investigation and intelligent forestry technologies.
The second phase of the 2026 FPWG Workshop was a full-day indoor research seminar. Chaired by Prof. Lin Cao (NJFU) and divided into morning and afternoon sessions, the seminar united experts from NJFU, UBC, NMBU and PKU to build an interdisciplinary international exchange platform. Centered on the frontiers of modern forest and tree phenotyping, the seminar covered a comprehensive range of research topics, including tree physiological stress response mechanisms, chlorophyll fluorescence-based photosynthetic evaluation, multi-omics exploration of stress-tolerant tree germplasm, intelligent forest monitoring, 3D remote sensing and AI applications in vegetation ecology, as well as forest biomass estimation. Invited experts from domestic and foreign institutions delivered thematic reports, presenting latest theoretical findings and technological innovations in forest phenotyping research. Prof. Nicholas Coops (UBC) presented advanced remote sensing methods for forest phenotyping and inventory. Prof. Terje Gobakken (NMBU) shared practical experiences from the Norwegian SmartForest Project, while Prof. Shengli Tao (PKU) introduced 3D remote sensing and AI advances in vegetation ecology.
Overall, this serial FPWG Workshop integrated theoretical academic seminars, technological innovation exchanges and on-site practical verification. By combining indoor academic discussions and outdoor field investigations, the events effectively promoted in-depth academic exchanges and mutual cooperation between NJFU and international research teams. It significantly facilitated the interdisciplinary integration of forest phenotyping, remote sensing science, geomatics and artificial intelligence, and further boosted the innovative and collaborative development of global forest phenotyping research.