May 6, 2025
ESA Releases Longest-Ever Earth Observation Dataset on Biomass to Support Forest Monitoring
Latest update provides most comprehensive satellite-based maps of above-ground forest carbon to date
The release of the most advanced above-ground biomass maps based on space-derived observations offer the clearest global picture yet of how forest carbon stocks have changed over the past two decades. Now in its sixth iteration, the dataset, developed as part of ESA's Climate Change Initiative (CCI), extends the long-term record both backwards and forwards in time to cover most years for the period 2007-2022. With spatial resolutions ranging from 100m to 50km tracking carbon-rich woody parts of vegetation, this new long-term record is tailored as a powerful tool for climate modelling, forest management, and greenhouse gas reporting under the Paris Agreement.
The project has benefited enormously from ongoing close collaboration with international partners, with particularly the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The dataset comprises data from multiple satellite missions, including ESA's Envisat, Copernicus Sentinel-1, JAXA's ALOS-1 and -2 missions and NASA's lidar measurements to give a globally consistent picture of forest biomass change. Following the successful launch of the Biomass mission in April 2025, the research team anticipates that the dataset will soon be further enhanced by data from the mission itself, particularly across tropical regions.
Find out how Version 6 is helping researchers and policy-makers to better understand carbon dynamics, predict future climate impacts, and drive collective climate action: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Space_for_our_climate/ESA_unveils_longest-ever_dataset_on_forest_biomass
Link dataset: https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/95913ffb6467447ca72c4e9d8cf30501/