The Impact of Digitalization on the Italian Forestry Sector: An Analysis Based on Socio-Economic Indicators

Digitalization has transformed various sectors, including forestry, by introducing specialized digital tools and ICTs. This study explores the impact of digitalization on the Italian forestry sector, focusing on socio-economic indicators. Data on these indicators were gathered from the “National Forest Information System” (SINFor), while the digitalization level in Italian regions came from previous studies. The methods used included correlation analysis between digitalization and socio-economic indicators, along with linear regression models. The study also presents three digital progress scenarios, predicting significant socio-economic improvements with increased digitalization. The results show a strong correlation between digitalization and forestry indicators such as employment, value creation, and certification. These findings highlight the transformative potential of digitalization for sustainable forest management, emphasizing the need for further investment in digital infrastructure to boost productivity, inclusivity, and environmental conservation. The study also discusses challenges in fully understanding the effects of digitalization and suggests future research directions to examine specific technological features and broader industry impacts.