Marteloscope of Colle/Kohlern

Planning forest management strategies while reconciling them with biodiversity conservation is a fascinating yet challenging task.Developing forest management strategies in harmony with biodiversity conservation requires experience in selecting which trees should be removed during forestry interventions. It also requires the ability to anticipate and assess how the forest will develop after such interventions.

This is precisely why so-called marteloscopes were developed. The term “marteloscope” combines the word martellata (the marking of trees designated for felling using a forestry hammer) with the Greek-derived suffix “-scope” (to observe, examine).

A marteloscope is therefore a forest area used as a training ground for students, forestry professionals, and forest owners. It functions as a true outdoor laboratory in which all trees are mapped and numbered. Tree marking is carried out using software developed by the European Forest Institute, through which trees are selected and felled – albeit only virtually. In this way, the software makes it possible to simulate the long-term effects of forestry measures and to test different management objectives and strategies.

The marteloscope on Kohlern/Colle was established by Eurac Research in collaboration with the Office for Forest Planning and the Municipality of Bolzano/Bozen at an altitude of around 1,100 metres above sea level. It covers an area of approximately 0.7 hectares of mixed forest. Marco Mina, forest ecologist at the Institute for Alpine Environment, together with his team, carried out the detailed surveys and characterization of the forest stand. Each individual tree was numbered, measured, georeferenced, and assessed from both ecological and economic perspectives. In addition, the microhabitats associated with the trees were recorded and described in detail.

The marteloscope also serves as a permanent monitoring site for basic research and long-term studies on forest biodiversity and forest ecology (for example through microclimatic sensors and dendrometers for real-time measurement of tree growth). Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to compare traditional forest research methods with new technologies. At the same time, it serves as a tool for the education and training of forestry professionals and for outreach activities aimed at school classes, university students, and the general public.

The marteloscope on Kohlern/Colle becomes part of the European Forest Institute (EFI) network. The first marteloscope was established as early as 1988 in the French state forest of Tronçais. Today, 27 countries and around 300 sites are part of the Integrate Network, and in April 2026 a new marteloscope was inaugurated for the first time even in Ontario, Canada.