Twenty-five percent of yearly carbon dioxide emissions around the globe are of anthropogenic origin, notably from tropical forest clearing. To combat climate change due to deforestation, the UN launched the REDD programme (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) in 2008 to tip the economic balance in favour of sustainable forest management.

Before launching a REDD programme, nations need baseline statistical data providing an estimation of forest biomass and carbon stock.

The Woods Hole Research Center has developed a methodology for mapping carbon in tropical forests using satellite imagery. This study encompassed the Budongo Forest in Uganda and is supported by Planet Action, a Spot Image initiative to help actions and projects combating climate change.

Satellite imagery is being used at several stages of the Budongo Forest project:

• Identify the 110 reference fields areas
• Develop a campaign to survey tree diameter, height and density in these areas
• Compute segmentation algorithms and Chave equations
• Produce biomass maps
• Outreach actions and education programs

On the basis of this study, the Woods Hole Research Center can now deploy other campaigns using the methodology tested out in the Budongo Forest and promote it under the banner of UN REDD programmes.

Planet Action Project "Pan-Tropical Mapping of Forest Cover"