Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), a partner of the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI), has announced the extension of the current public access to high-resolution satellite images of tropical rainforests until 23 January 2025. The extension ensures continued access to critical satellite data, enabling global users to monitor deforestation while a new long-term contract is secured.

Since 2020, NICFI has offered free access to high-resolution, analysis-ready satellite images of tropical regions. These images, provided by Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), Airbus and Planet, play a vital role in combating deforestation across tropical countries. Indigenous groups, researchers and governments rely on this data to detect deforestation and track policy impacts.

Earlier this year, NICFI initiated a public tender for a four-year contract, with the possibility of two additional one-year extensions. While the tender process for securing long-term access continues as planned, this extension ensures no gap in satellite monitoring until a new contract is finalized.

A global resource for action against deforestation

Over the years, tens of thousands of users from governments, civil society and the private sector have benefited from the programme. High-resolution images have been used to uncover illegal deforestation, monitor supply chains and publish critical research. In the Amazon, Indigenous Peoples use the data to expose illegal logging, while researchers worldwide have published over a hundred peer-reviewed studies based on NICFI’s satellite imagery.

For instance, Peru (pictured) was an early adopter of NICFI’s deforestation alerts and continues to rely on the data to track and respond to deforestation. The programme’s contributions have proven invaluable, not only in tracking forest loss but also in holding governments and companies accountable for environmental harm.

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