Water management in the Mediterranean with OurMED
December 20, 2023
ForPeat: Towards sustainable peatland forest management
August 6, 2025
MoniFor
The project is developing a methodology for holistic forest monitoring in Germany and Europe that takes into account biodiversity indicators, carbon storage, and the cooling potential of forests. New information products are derived using AI-based methods, including forest structure information and long-term analyses of changes in forest surface temperature. All results are made available to the public via the platform “Waldmonitor-Deutschland” and serve as best practice examples in expert committees at national and European level. Finally, the results are used to develop a concept for ecosystem service assessment.
Forests in Transition
Forests are important for our health and well-being, and the health of the planet. They are rich in biodiversity and, as carbon sinks, are of enormous importance for measures against climate change. Their ecosystem services provide us with clean water, food, medicines, and materials, they reduce the risk of natural disasters and stabilize soils. For this reason, forest ecosystems play a key role in both the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, forests are threatened by two global crises: global warming and biodiversity loss. Both crises are closely linked and are mutually reinforced by human activities. The EU Forest Strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy are key factors in maintaining and improving the functions of forests. The aim is to improve the quality and quantity of forests, strengthen their protection status, and increase their restoration and resilience.
Earth observation for improved forest monitoring
Innovative Earth Observation technologies play a key role here, as they complement existing ground-based sampling methods for forest monitoring and provide improved information in terms of time and space. Unfortunately, earth observation capacities have not yet been sufficiently leveraged within the framework of these international commitments and initiatives. In MoniFor, Earth observation data is therefore processed using artificial intelligence methods to develop new information products for more comprehensive forest monitoring in Germany and the EU. These are combined with other available geodata and existing satellite products to provide novel indicators for biodiversity assessment in forests, for quantifying carbon storage, and for assessing cooling effects in the landscape. These various information products are then further developed into a monitoring procedure. In addition, we will conceptualize a method for evaluating ecosystem services using the methods and products applied. Our aim is to offer a concrete implementation concept for the EU Forest Monitoring Initiative, using Germany as an example.
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