To provide proof that global, annual, wall-to-wall coverage of the world’s forests is feasible through coordinated satellite data acquisition strategies, demonstrate the combination of Optical and SAR sensor data with in situ data, and to show rapid progress in the run-up to COP-15 in Copenhagen, the Task has defined seven “National Demonstrators” (NDs) spanning different continents. These demonstrators are intended to show the feasibility of the combining satellite-based and in-situ forest monitoring information in support of future national carbon accounting systems.

Within each ND, Verification Sites have been selected. These sites are subject to increased high-resolution imaging, combined with in depth in-situ data gathering. These sites are used to demonstrate techniques and methods in detail.

You can use the FCT National Demonstrators Browser to view a summary of the 2009-2010 data acquisitions for each of the demonstrators.

• Borneo
• Brazil
• Cameroon
• Colombia
• DRC
• Guyana
• Mexico
• Peru
• Sumatra
• Tanzania
• Tasmania

The following table summarises the number of scenes acquired over each National Demonstrator by each of the relevant satellite sensors. (Click here to see notes on metrics.)

The following table summarises the percentage covered over each National Demonstrator by each of the relevant satellite sensors. (Click here to see notes on metrics.)

To date, four main satellite missions and their sensors have acquired data for the FCT task. These missions are owned and operated by CEOS, who have provided significant support to the FCT task, and in 2009-2010 have successfully demonstrated that the coordinated satellite acquisition strategy can deliver the required observations required to support FCT from space.

The links to the right provide background on each of these missions and instruments through the CEOS Missions, Instruments and Measurements database.

ESA > Envisat > ASAR

USGS / NASA > Landsat > ETM

JAXA > ALOS > PALSAR

CSA > RADARSAT-2 > SAR