The Research and Development (R&D) Coordination Component of the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) held the first session of the GFOI R&D Exchanges on 17 September 2024. This session focused on practical examples of near real-time (NRT) alert use in the field. With approximately 200 participants joining the exchange, the engaging discussion covered the key challenges and opportunities for countries with using forest disturbance alerts to better manage their forests and respond before the occurance of major deforestation events and resultant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Sarah Carter from the World Resources Institute (WRI) moderated the session and opened the webinar by introducing the topic and emphasizing the importance of forest management and monitoring tools to combat deforestation.

Introduction to alerts and new GFOI guidance materials

Johannes Reiche from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) discussed the advancements in NRT deforestation alerts using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, which was described as a great resource to fill gaps where traditional optical satellites might struggle. The integration of open-source tools that allow for the customization of these alerts based on specific regional needs was highlighted.

Mr Reiche introduced the updated GFOI guidance materials aimed at improving forest management strategies globally, focusing on satellite-based near-real-time deforestation alerts. The new GFOI Methods and Guidance Documentation (MGD) module on this powerful tool in forest management can be found at https://www.reddcompass.org/mgd.

Near-real-time alerts for protecting forests

Louis Reymondin from the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) presented on "Landscapes for Cocoa Livelihoods." This initiative applies data-driven methods to protect forests in cocoa-growing regions by enabling the private sector to fund community-led conservation schemes, thus demonstrating the potential of NRT forest monitoring. With the payment for ecosystem services (PES) model, the programme rewards communities for maintaining forest cover. The initiative uses a blend of satellite monitoring and ground-based verifications to ensure data accuracy, providing rapid responses to emerging threats.

It was explained that NRT alerts are vital to help prevent illegal activities, such as logging or encroachment, by immediately notifying local authorities and communities. Moreover, Mr Reymondin highlighted the importance of local engagement and stakeholder buy-in, noting that the success of these systems depends on community trust and cooperation.

National Forest Conservation Program for Climate Change Mitigation

Daniel Castillo from Peru’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM) presented Peru's National Forest Conservation Program for Climate Change Mitigation Forests. The programme ties directly into the country’s broader climate change mitigation strategy with a focus on protecting the Amazon rainforest as a crucial resource for both carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The programme's goal is to ensure that Peru meets its climate goals under international agreements, including the Paris Accord, while also improving livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.

Deforestation alerts in Peru were initiated in collaboration with the University of Maryland, from which the government developed their own methods based on Landsat data designed and published in 2017 and 2019. The main goal of this initiative is to generate a user-driven platform for which forest alerts would be available not only to generate statistics, but also to generate action on the ground.

An FAO tool for alert generation and customization

Erik Lindquist from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) presented the SEPAL tool designed by FAO to help countries better manage and protect their forests with the provision of NRT data on deforestation activities. He explained how SEPAL is adaptable to various country contexts, allowing for tailored data integration and forest management strategies. It utilizes both optical and radar data from multiple satellite sources, thus ensuring continuous monitoring capabilities regardless of weather or geographic conditions.

Mr Lindquist showcased practical examples where FAO’s tool helped countries customize alerts to fit their local forest types, ecosystem needs and management priorities. One feature emphasized was the ability to create custom thresholds for alerts so that different levels of deforestation activities (such as small-scale vs. large-scale) can trigger different types of responses. Moreover, the use of cloud platforms for data storage and processing was discussed regarding the enablement of countries with limited resources to benefit from these advanced technologies.

Conclusion

The meeting concluded with an open discussion among participants. The Q&A session provided insights from various participants on how these tools and methodologies could be applied in different contexts. The final remarks, delivered by Daniela Requena Suarez from GFOI R&D, GFZ Potsdam, succinctly reinforced the importance of collaboration on NRT and broader forest conservation efforts as such technologies continue to evolve and are applied in practice to help countries better manage their forests and reduce GHG emissions.

To review the extent of these fascinating presentations and collaborative discussion, watch the recording.

GFOI R&D Exchanges

The GFOI R&D Exchanges are a new online series of bimonthly events designed to foster discussions on evolving forest monitoring methods and their applications in national forest monitoring systems. These meetings serve as a dynamic platform for the GFOI research community and interested stakeholders to exchange information and insights on recent research achievements and persisting gaps. The content is designed to focus on the current GFOI R&D priorities, such as: degradation and regrowth mapping, biomass and emission factor estimation, deforestation alerts, uncertainty analysis, land use and greenhouse gases. Stay tuned for upcoming sessions!