The TransForMon project is dedicated to cross-border research and monitoring of forest development in the Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland National Parks. The unique forest ecosystems of this region form a central part of the landscape and are particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change, such as droughts, bark beetle infestations and forest fires. As these natural processes do not adhere to national borders, TransForMon aims to strengthen the networking of monitoring, data resources and conservation measures between Germany and the Czech Republic and to develop them jointly.

A defining feature of TransForMon is the close collaboration between national park authorities, universities and research institutions on both sides of the border. Experts from the fields of remote sensing, geoinformatics, environmental sciences, forestry and computer science are working together to develop modern methods for analysing long-term forest changes and current dynamics at high spatial and temporal resolution. To this end, historical aerial photographs, satellite data, drone imagery and field data are combined and analysed.

A particular focus of the project is the development of a freely accessible, multilingual information system about the forests in the national parks. The web portal is designed to provide scientific information, historical developments, current monitoring data and virtual insights into the forest landscapes for experts, administrators, visitors and the interested public. At the same time, it serves as a platform for cross-border exchange and the shared use of forest data between the participating institutions.

The findings from the project will help to establish standardised methods for sustainable forest monitoring and raise awareness of the need to protect sensitive forest ecosystems. By combining research, modern geodata technology and public knowledge dissemination, TransForMon is laying new foundations for the long-term monitoring and sustainable development of forests in Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland.