Launched in 2025 under the European Space Agency’s FutureEO-1 Programme, the WorldForest project develops innovative EO-based methodologies and tools to support adaptive and sustainable forest management. It brings together scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to co-develop open, actionable information products on forest types, structure, biomass, disturbances, and restoration.
By involving Early Adopters from the outset, WorldForest ensures that new EO solutions are aligned with real operational needs and can be integrated into institutional workflows, turning satellite data into tangible impact for both people and the planet.
Global action to protect forests begins with understanding their value
Forests are essential to life on Earth. They sustain biodiversity, support livelihoods, and regulate the planet’s climate by absorbing carbon and stabilising ecosystems. Yet growing populations, agricultural expansion, and the demand for timber and commodities continue to drive deforestation and degradation, threatening these critical systems.
In response, the international community has established a network of global frameworks — from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its REDD+ mechanism to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and regional initiatives such as the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme — to protect and restore forests.
Why understanding forests from space matters more than ever
Achieving global frameworks ambitions, however, depends on accurate, consistent, and accessible information. Through optical, radar, and LiDAR sensors, Earth Observation (EO) systems capture detailed information on canopy structure, biomass, and disturbance events such as fires or logging. Time-series analyses reveal long-term trends, while near real-time monitoring enables the early detection of deforestation and degradation. Satellites such as the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 missions deliver continuous coverage, supporting both regional and global assessments.
Advances in cloud computing, data analytics, and machine learning are expanding EO’s capabilities. High-resolution imagery and automated classification systems allow scientists and institutions to derive forest maps, biomass estimates, and carbon stock assessments with increasing precision. These tools deepen scientific understanding and translate complex satellite data into evidence-based decisions and transparent reporting aligned with frameworks such as REDD+ and SDG 15.
EO also strengthens the operational capacity of governments, development institutions, and environmental organisations. By providing consistent, comparable data across time and geography, EO supports integrated landscape planning, risk assessment, and resource allocation. It offers a cost-effective, scalable, and independent means to monitor forest management outcomes and evaluate the effectiveness of restoration and conservation measures.
The WorldForest project develops open, actionable EO solutions
Within this global context, the WorldForest project represents a major step towards applying satellite-based science to practical forest management challenges. Funded under the European Space Agency’s FutureEO-1 Programme and part of the EO4Society Applications Element, WorldForest develops methodologies and information products to support adaptive and sustainable Forest Management at both European and global scales.
WorldForest connects cutting-edge EO science with the realities of policy implementation. The project’s methods build on advances in Sentinel-1 radar, Sentinel-2 optical imagery, and LiDAR missions such as GEDI and ICESat-2, enabling detailed insights into canopy structure, biomass, and change dynamics.
The project’s innovation lies in developing open, reproducible, and scalable algorithms—from near-real-time disturbance alerts to advanced biomass estimation—and embedding these within openEO and Jupyter-based processing environments for greater transparency and interoperability.
Early Adopters drive co-development
At its core, WorldForest is built on co-ownership and co-design. Four Early Adopters (EAs) are already actively engaged in shaping the tools and testing early prototypes across their respective Areas of Interest:
- Malawi’s Department of Forestry is strengthening its national REDD+ coordination through EO-supported monitoring of forest cover change and degradation.
- Mozambique’s MRV Unit (FNDS) is focusing on Zambézia Province, integrating radar-based disturbance alerts with existing REDD+ and landscape restoration programmes.
- Peru’s SERFOR-DIV is co-developing biomass estimation workflows, combining national forest inventories with space-based datasets to refine emission factors and improve carbon reporting.
- Reef Check Malaysia is collaborating on mangrove mapping and monitoring, validating high-resolution EO methods for canopy height, biomass, and coastal restoration planning.
These collaborations anchor WorldForest’s scientific development in operational reality, thus ensuring the outputs directly address institutional needs and can be adopted within existing forest information systems.
From science to application
Technical progress in WorldForest focuses on advancing tree cover density mapping, biomass modelling, and mangrove monitoring. All workflows are being developed for open-source implementation, supporting reproducibility and long-term sustainability beyond the project’s lifetime.
Achieving global targets for forest conservation and climate resilience largely depends on partnerships that connect technical innovation to policy implementation, other than on the availability of robust data. Satellite Earth Observation, through initiatives such as WorldForest, provides a foundation for transparent monitoring, informed decision-making, and adaptive management.
Learn more about WorldForest and its progress towards adaptive and sustainable forest management at https://esa-worldforest.org/