The digitalization framework of the National Forest System at 2020

Abstract

Digitization is a priority objective on the Italian government’s agenda, yet international indicators recognise a low level of implementation in Italy. The delegation of jurisdiction on forestry to the various Regions and Autonomous Provinces (R&PA), the involvement of numerous institutions with indirect authority and the absence of a national coordination structure may explain the backwardness that characterizes the Italian forestry system today. In this study, an initiative was undertaken to investigate the computerization and digitization in the forestry sector. Basic information was collected by conducting interviews and scrutinizing the websites of the R&PA, with the aim of defining the degree and level of digitization of each R&PA, and thus of the national forestry system. Few R&PAs have a high degree of digitization, while none reach an advanced level, with a decreasing gradient along the North-South axis. The national digital forestry system is characterized by a degree of 0.74 and a level of 2.24.