OLMOS Operational Group: Enhancing the value of the Dutch elm disease-tolerant Iberian elm as a producer of quality wood

The Olmos Operational Group will develop a comprehensive cartographic database integrating all existing experiments and plantations of Dutch elm disease-resistant elm, complemented by a detailed compilation of relevant scientific and technical publications. First, an exhaustive exploration of freely accessible scientific data and techniques will be carried out, supplemented by contacting stakeholders in the sector to obtain information that is not readily available. Second, an analysis of the sector (timber companies, sawmills, landowners) with experience in Ulmus minor and other small broadleaf trees will be conducted to gain a thorough understanding of market perceptions, interests, and existing barriers. This will enable the group to offer guidance on products and strategies, ultimately strengthening the viability of elm as a resource. Furthermore, a compilation of relevant previous experiences with the species will be undertaken to select representative plantations that will serve as case studies, fulfilling the project objectives and providing value to end users.

Spatially explicit ecological niche models will be developed for the tolerant clones. First, relevant ecological information (cartographic, edaphic, climatic, etc.) will be compiled from open sources, supplemented by contact with stakeholders in the sector who can provide information that is not readily available. Based on this, a soil sampling plan will be designed to cover the previously identified age and productivity ranges. Following this design, dendrometric data (diameters, heights, quality, etc.) will be collected, followed by soil pit excavation, sampling, and analysis (percentage of coarse particles, texture, pH, nitrogen, calcium carbonate, phosphorus, etc.). Using all this data, ecological fitness models for the species and productivity models for each analyzed clone will be generated using modeling tools. In addition to climate suitability and edaphic-climatic adaptation models, recommendations for use will be provided. The application of these models will offer significant added value, increasing efficiency in forest management, reducing risks associated with planting in inappropriate areas, and improving its sustainability and profitability.

Advanced tools will be developed for calculating and classifying timber volumes, as well as for evaluating the quality of standing trees. To this end, a LiDAR and photogrammetric flight will first be conducted using UAVs over three representative plantations at different stages of development. Additionally, portable LiDAR data will be collected in the field over the same plantations. Subsequently, a system will be designed, prototyped, and tested to integrate both aerial and portable data into a single system, identifying critical points (geopositioning, RTK errors, etc.) and analyzing the influence of species and plantation structure on the data integration system. Finally, data will be collected from tree trunks to analyze taper and ellipticity criteria, which, together with the ground-based LiDAR data, will allow for the development of volume and form models. The implementation of these innovations will offer significant added value, facilitating data-driven decision-making and reducing risks associated with estimation errors.

Tools will be developed for assigning the technological quality of wood from different clones, using non-destructive techniques. First, impact wave velocity data will be collected using sonic technology. Samples will be extracted with an auger to analyze density, which will be correlated with resistograph and near-infrared (NIR) measurements. Additionally, a sample of trees will be felled and butchered, and defect-free specimens will be extracted. These specimens will be used to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of deformations, dimensional stability, specific weight, modulus of elasticity, and strength modulus through bending tests. Furthermore, the wood property data and descriptive data of the forest stand will be statistically analyzed to develop predictive models of technological properties. Finally, these models will be implemented in a digital tool with end users to analyze the user experience.

Technical characterization of the properties of wood transformed into boards and end grain and its application in new small-dimension, tolerant elm wood products and other potential structural uses: In this step, the felled and bucked trees from the previous step will be transported to the sawmill. There, sawing patterns will be tested, using traditional cutting (for boards) with different thicknesses and transverse and oblique end grain cutting (for slices). These cuts will then be dried and processed to obtain prototypes of high-value-added design products. Additionally, sawing will be carried out to obtain defect-free samples. Finally, a methodology will be developed to quantify the CO2 retained in the wood products from origin to final destination. This will allow, in addition to offering high-value-added products, the determination of their final carbon sequestration and that of the process leading to the final product.

Silvicultural and agroforestry production routes will be developed with the objective of timber production, including economic valuations of the different alternatives. First, growth curves, volume rates, and equations for height and crown diameter based on diameter at breast height will be created using the trees inventoried in the previous results, along with sampling in other areas with mature trees under low competition, thus generating various routes. The developed models will be compared with existing agroforestry practices so that management models can be adapted to optimize the most relevant agricultural activities. Finally, economic valuations of each route will be carried out, including both timber and carbon sequestered in the various reservoirs associated with the plantation. End users will be able to apply these routes to optimize plantation planning, select management strategies appropriate to each context, and improve the production of quality timber, increasing their competitiveness and generating added value for the forestry sector.

The Olmos Project will carry out a series of dissemination and promotion activities through eight main actions: a corporate identity manual, a website integrated into EU-FarmBook, a digital brochure and roll-up banners, press releases and social media communication, scientific and outreach publications, participation in industry events, and technical workshops aimed at landowners, timber merchants, interior designers, researchers, and policymakers. Dissemination will be conducted nationally through digital and in-person channels, with international reach thanks to EU-FarmBook's automatic translation capabilities. As a practical recommendation, these activities will increase the project's visibility, facilitate access to robust results, promote innovation in forest and agroforestry management, and raise awareness among the various stakeholders in the value chain about the potential of tolerant elm plantations, contributing to the value of quality timber and the economic and environmental development of rural areas.

The Olmos Operational Group will produce audiovisual materials to communicate the project's most relevant results in widely accessible formats, which will also serve as a permanent dissemination resource after the project's completion. Four short videos, static infographics for each result, and two visual presentations of the most relevant results will be developed. These materials will target the same audience as RD1, but with a general approach to ensure they are understandable to those outside the sector. They will be disseminated primarily through the project website on EU-FarmBook and on the social media channels of the Operational Group and its partners, enabling national and international reach. As a practical recommendation, this content will enhance public visibility of the progress achieved, increase understanding of the impact of public investment in forest innovation, promote education and public awareness regarding the sustainable management of elms and the valorization of quality timber, and strengthen the project's presence in digital media on an ongoing basis.

The scope of the project's dissemination activities will be evaluated through the preparation of interim reports, including a press book and a record of the number of impacts in each implementation period, as well as a final report consolidating all results. These reports will be primarily aimed at the MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) technical staff responsible for evaluating the implementation of the Operational Goal, facilitating the monitoring and verification of compliance with the commitments made. The information will be disseminated through the project website and the EU-FarmBook platform, with international access thanks to automatic translation, and may be sent by email to the relevant recipients. All formats will be digital, with no physical copies, and will be produced periodically according to the project implementation schedule. This initiative will increase transparency, improve the communication of results, and ensure that the knowledge generated is available to both the administration and any interested user, expanding the project's impact at the national and international levels.