Forests play a critical role in regulating the climate, preserving biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods — yet they remain under threat from deforestation, degradation, and mismanagement. Despite the wealth of satellite data available today, many institutions still lack actionable, policy-relevant tools to monitor forest change effectively.
WorldForest is a new initiative funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop cutting-edge satellite tools for forest monitoring. It aims to support climate and biodiversity policies by working with governments, researchers, and environmental organizations around the world.
Key focus areas
- Understanding Forest: Mapping forest types and structure to support planning, biodiversity protection, and EU forest policies.
- Detecting Change: Tracking forest loss, degradation, and recovery to inform climate action and REDD+ monitoring.
- Measuring Carbon & Biomass: Estimating forest carbon stocks to support national GHG inventories and global climate goals.
- Monitoring Mangrove Forests: Monitoring Mangrove Forest to support coastal resilience, biodiversity, and blue carbon strategies.
