Remote sensing (RS) products enable faster detection of forest disturbances and better support for decision-making in forestry, yet their use in operational practice remains limited. We examined the needs, requirements and barriers to the uptake of RS products among forestry professionals employed at the Slovenia Forest Service. Data were collected through an online survey based on the international INSANE project and adapted to the Slovenian forestry context; 141 respondents completed it in full. We used descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test of independence and Cramér's V. A tree species map was rated as useful by 91% of respondents, a disturbance map and a biomass map by 82% each, and a canopy height model by 67%. For all products, respondents considered the stand level to be the most appropriate level of spatial aggregation. For disturbances, they expect detection within 3–7 days for insect attacks and within 8–30 days for other disturbances, and they prefer an overestimated to an omitted extent of damaged areas. These requirements meet or exceed the capabilities of freely available satellite data. Age was not associated with expressed interest in the products, whereas level of education was associated only for the biomass map (p = 0.022) and the disturbance map (p = 0.038). Interest among employees is high, but the products are largely not yet available to them. The main barriers are organisational and communicational, particularly the predominance of informal knowledge acquisition and the lack of systematic training.
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