A map of every tree in Africa will help monitor deforestation

High-resolution satellite tv for pc imagery has been used to map each single tree in Africa, demonstrating a method that might assist enhance the monitoring of deforestation internationally.

Florian Reiner on the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and his colleagues used photos from satellites operated by US agency Planet and machine-learning fashions to map cover cowl throughout the complete African continent.

Modern satellites often seize tree canopies at a decision of 30 metres – advantageous for measuring the dimensions of forests, however much less good at mapping particular person bushes and small thickets.

The satellite tv for pc knowledge Reiner and his colleagues used had a decision of three metres, enabling the examine to map all bushes, together with these not a part of a forest.

The outcomes recommend that 30 per cent of all bushes in Africa aren’t in a forest, and as a substitute are scattered throughout farmland, savannah and concrete areas.

Many international locations in Africa lack dense forests, however have a whole lot of bushes nonetheless, says Reiner. “These trees are incredibly important to the local ecosystems, the people, to the economy.”

Similar analysis has additionally been finished mapping cover cowl throughout Europe, which reveals that, in some international locations, as much as 24 per cent of tree cowl is discovered exterior forests.

By monitoring each single tree or thicket, researchers can begin to monitor how these bushes are dealing with local weather change, says Reiner, or whether or not they’re susceptible to deforestation. It might additionally enhance the monitoring of reforestation efforts, that are rising in recognition as a approach of eradicating carbon dioxide from the ambiance.

“At a local level, being able to consistently monitor when and where trees are disappearing or reappearing can generate more actionable insights,” says John Francis on the Alan Turing Institute in London.

The examine is a proof of idea somewhat than a map prepared for quick industrial use, says Reiner. “It’s research work. it’s showing what could be done,” he says.

But he’s already working with colleagues to scale up the monitoring method to cowl the complete world cover: “We’re hoping that this will be seen as a way forward in monitoring tree resources.”