The initiative is part of the CAVIFOREST project, which has promoted artificial shelters in young Catalan forests, combining the expertise of the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) and Eurecat’s capacity in technological development.
The Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) and the Eurecat technology centre have developed new tools and technologies for creating artificial shelters in young Catalan forests in order to boost forest biodiversity. The initiative is part of the CAVIFOREST project, which has combined CTFC’s expertise and Eurecat’s capacity in technological development to create chainsaw accessories, attachments for electric drills, specialized drill bits, and adapters for forestry machinery, incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to improve accuracy and safety.
“We wanted to explore new strategies to increase the presence of microhabitats by creating artificial cavities to strengthen forest biodiversity”
explains Pol Guardis from the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia.
“At Eurecat, we analyzed and validated different tools and developed new heads and adapters that optimize the process, making it faster, safer, and easier to apply in forest environments,”
explains Francisco Fernández, Head of Circular Design at Eurecat’s Product Innovation and Multiphysics Simulation Unit.
At the same time, the CTFC has carried out comprehensive biological monitoring to assess the actual use of these cavities by wildlife, especially birds and bats, as well as insects, small mammals, reptiles, and arachnids. Using monitoring techniques such as camera trapping and bioacoustics, the fauna was compared before and a few years after the intervention to determine the effectiveness of the created cavities.
The results indicate that cavity creation can be an effective tool for boosting biodiversity while forests mature into structures with larger trees, natural cavities, and deadwood—essential elements for richer, more resilient forest ecosystems.
Cavity-dwelling fauna, key to forest biodiversity
Cavity-dwelling fauna—such as birds, bats, and other species relying on natural tree holes—is a key component of forest biodiversity. These animals contribute to insect control, seed dispersal, and overall ecosystem health.
However, in many Mediterranean forests, the lack of large, old trees and low deadwood presence severely restrict the availability of natural cavities. Currently, this shortage is only compensated for with nest boxes, which are not always sufficient or suitable for many species.
Last modified: 9 November 2026
