BIG DATA IN THE FOREST BIOECONOMY: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

The forest sector is expected to become an integral component of the emerging bioeconomy by offering unique advantages that can fulfill a number of economic, social, and environmental objectives. "Big Data" has emerged as a used to describe the use and benefits of unparalleled access to digital information that represents unprecedented opportunities for advancing science and supporting forest management through data-intensive approaches. This short paper puts into perspective the global challenge of acquiring and sharing multi-dimensional data, be they socio-economic or environmental in nature. Despite the explosion in environmental Big Data derived from global-scale forest monitoring, the deficit in social and economic data and the lack of their integration into a multi-dimensional decision-making system may limit the full potential of the forest's contribution to the bioeconomy, including both marketed and non-marketed goods and services. In consequence, it is crucial to support sustainable forest management and flexible value chains with data-driven analyses and cross-disciplinary approaches, not only to boost the shift from traditional forestry towards the bioeconomy, but also to improve environmental, social, and economic sustainability in the forest sector.