Tropical forest carbon assessment: integrating satellite and airborne mappingapproaches

Abstract

Large-scale carbon mapping is needed to support the UNFCCC program to reducedeforestation and forest degradation (REDD). Managers of forested land canpotentially increase their carbon credits via detailed monitoring of forest cover, lossand gain (hectares), and periodic estimates of changes in forest carbon density (tons ha−1). Satellites provide an opportunity to monitor changes in forest carbon caused bydeforestation and degradation, but only after initial carbon densities have been assessed.New airborne approaches, especially light detection and ranging (LiDAR), provide a meansto estimate forest carbon density over large areas, which greatly assists in thedevelopment of practical baselines. Here I present an integrated satellite–airbornemapping approach that supports high-resolution carbon stock assessment andmonitoring in tropical forest regions. The approach yields a spatially resolved,regional state-of-the-forest carbon baseline, followed by high-resolution monitoring offorest cover and disturbance to estimate carbon emissions. Rapid advances anddecreasing costs in the satellite and airborne mapping sectors are already makinghigh-resolution carbon stock and emissions assessments viable anywhere in the world.