Over 65% of forest trees in Darmstadt's western forest are damaged, and current methods to document the dynamics of tree health are subjective and inaccurate. Forest soil is crucial for tree health, providing water supply, nutrients, and protection from pollutants. Sustained damage to soil can increase tree damage and lead to ecological and economic impacts. Tree health can be assessed using multispectral cameras, but ground parameters must also be considered. Never before were all aspects observed and analyzed simultaneously. Our interdisciplinary project will combine quantitative and qualitative aspects of canopy cover with chemical, microclimatic, and faunistic parameters of the forest floor, forming a tight link between three research fields.

This project is funded by Forum Interdisciplinary Research (FiF) 2024.