Transparency and actionable Earth Observations for Forests

Presented by Martin Herold (Jena University) at "Forests, finance & fairness: Lessons and pathways for transforming pledges into action” COP 30 side event on 13 November 2025.
Recent advances in Earth Observation (EO), transparency frameworks, and carbon monitoring systems are transforming how countries track land use, forest change, and climate‑related performance. Under the UNFCCC’s enhanced transparency framework, independent assessment and actionable information are increasingly central to data‑driven governance. New EO tools—such as Sentinel‑1‑based RADD alerts, Africa‑wide post‑deforestation land‑use mapping, and forthcoming ESA BIOMASS P‑band radar—provide high‑resolution, near‑real‑time insights into forest disturbance, biomass stocks, and commodity‑driven emissions. Global aboveground biomass maps and emerging foundation models like 3D‑ABC integrate ground, airborne, and satellite data to estimate above‑ and below‑ground carbon at multiple scales.

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