Increasing the effectiveness of knowledge transfer activities and training of the forestry workforce with marteloscopes

Sample plots of various sizes and forms are put in place to describe and monitor trees, stands or forest characteristics. The intent is usually to provide the basis for measuring and understanding the forest. Marteloscopes, by contrast, are large plots designed for tree marking simulations, set up with human beings as the main focus: they are used for knowledge transfer activities, training of various categories of forestry workers, and even for the study of human tree selection behaviors. This distinctive type of permanent plot is relatively new and unfamiliar to North America’s forestry professionals. In this paper, we provide a working definition of marteloscopes and demonstrate how they can significantly improve knowledge exchange and learning experiences, notably for complex decisions on partial cutting treatments. Potential uses of marteloscopes, their benefits as well as some of the challenges they bring are discussed in the presentation of selected examples from Canada, the United States and Italy. These examples cover uses by research agencies, universities and nonprofit organizations. Finally, we discuss ongoing developments for marteloscopes, the standardization of protocols and the potential benefits of linking marteloscopes into an international network, as more of them are put in place in diverse and unique forest settings.