MetsäGPT: AI-Powered Decision Support for Finnish Forests

Application summary

How can we ensure that everyone’s voice is heard when making decisions about the future of Finnish forests? This project develops MetsäGPT, an innovative, open-source decision-support system that combines artificial intelligence with participatory methods to democratize forest planning. The system enables ordinary citizens, indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to express their values, concerns, and preferences in natural language. These inputs are then translated into structured decision models using advanced AI techniques, including large language models (LLMs) and interactive multiobjective optimization. MetsäGPT simulates the ecological, cultural, and economic outcomes of alternative forest management strategies, helping stakeholders explore trade-offs and discover compromise solutions that balance competing priorities, such as biodiversity conservation, berry picking, and timber production. The project will be developed in close collaboration with forest users and experts, and will support inclusive, transparent, and data-informed governance of Finnish forests. By making complex decision-making tools accessible to non-experts, MetsäGPT opens new pathways for sustainable forest futures, ones shaped not just by experts or institutions, but by society at large. Anticipated societal impacts include enhanced stakeholder trust, improved forest policies that reflect public values, and increased preservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity. This project aligns with Finland's National Forest Strategy 2035, promoting citizen participation and sustainable practices. By amplifying unheard voices, we aim to create a more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable approach to forest management. This comprehensive, participatory, and AI-powered project represents a paradigm shift in sustainable forest governance, ensuring that Finnish forests truly belong to everyone.