The development of the OptFor-EU Decision Support System (DSS) is centred on the people who will ultimately use it.The DSS being developed by the project consortium will provide forest managers optimal solutions for sustainable Forest Management Practices (FMP) and decarbonisation of the European forests under different climate change and management scenarios. Forest management involves a wide range of stakeholders, from scientists and landowners to policymakers. To ensure the DSS is relevant and accessible, OptFor-EU has defined four representative user personas who can benefit from the different features and functions of its tool .
Wanda – The Researcher
Wanda represents the scientific community. Her work relies on accuracy, detail, and clarity in data. She uses the DSS to access and cross-reference information, annotate datasets with her own observations, and integrate findings into broader research. For researchers like Wanda, the value of the tool lies in its ability to provide reliable, granular data that supports both scientific analysis and knowledge sharing.
Freddy – The Forest Owner
Freddy reflects the day-to-day realities of managing a forest. His priorities are compliance with regulations, sustainable harvesting, and efficiency in operations. Connectivity challenges and administrative burdens often stand in the way. The DSS offers him practical support in the field: checking legal updates, planning harvests, and tracking impacts in a way that is simple, reliable, and time-saving.
Nora – The Advocator
Nora embodies a new generation of environmental advocates. Passionate and digitally skilled, she seeks to raise awareness and mobilise support for forest protection. The DSS provides her with access to data she can translate into compelling visual material, infographics, and analyses that reach the public, volunteers, and even policymakers. Through her, the platform helps connect science and society.
Giovanni – The Politician
Giovanni illustrates the perspective of public decision-makers. His role requires balancing multiple interests, designing effective policies, and ensuring that sustainability is integrated into forest management. The DSS supports him by offering verified and standardised data, enabling transparent dialogue among stakeholders, and strengthening the evidence base for funding and policy design.
Together, these four personas reflect the diversity of needs, expectations, and expertise that the OptFor-EU DSS will serve. By putting users at the heart of its design, the tool becomes more than just a data platform, it becomes a bridge between knowledge and action. Whether in the forest, the lab, the public arena, or the policy sphere, the DSS empowers stakeholders to make better-informed, climate-resilient decisions for Europe’s forests.