Report
Space for Forestry in Developing Countries
UK Space Agency International Partnerships Programme
Authors Caribou
With the support of
This report is produced under the International Partnership Programme (IPP) at the UK Space Agency. IPP uses the UK Space sector’s research and innovation strengths to deliver sustainable, economic, and societal benefits to developing countries.
The global forestry sector faces many challenges, many of which are more acute in developing countries. These nations have some of the most valuable forests in terms of timber and ecosystems, but their sustainability is increasingly under threat. Rapidly growing human populations require more land for agriculture, while increased exposure to international markets for commodities like timber, soy, and palm oil are driving deforestation and forest degradation. These processes play a significant role in climate change and thus it is crucial to monitor them.
Such monitoring is a challenging task using traditional, ground-based methods. For consistent, accurate, high-frequency monitoring of forests at large scales, with automated data delivery, processing and analysis, space provides the only viable solution. This report outlines in detail why and how the space industry has a critical role to play in providing such solutions.
Areas of Expertise
