Key GODAN Partners CEOS, alongside board members ISRO, are running a course on Forest Biomass Assessment for the BIMSTEC region (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand) on 13-17 April 2020.

Forests are known to absorb large quantities of carbon, thereby playing a crucial role in the global climate system. Measurement of forest biomass is, therefore, vital for carbon budget accounting, carbon flux monitoring and helping us gain a better understanding of the forest ecosystem response to climate change. With new technologies constantly being developed, EO data can play a significant role in mapping and monitoring forest biomass. Better data integration approaches can also be applied for more accurate measurement.

The international short course on “Forest Biomass Assessment using Earth Observation Data” has been designed to expose the course participants on the use of RS-based approaches for mapping forest biomass/carbon stocks via integration of EO data, field inventory data, and models. The course duration is one week and will comprise of lectures, practical activities and field excursions.

Find out more, including how to sign up, here: Forest Biomass Assessment using Earth Observation Data Short Course

Course organisers, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) mission is to coordinate and promote exchange of space observation data to aid effective decision making and benefit humankind in general. CEOS main focus is to help inform decision-making in the interconnected areas of climate monitoring and research; carbon observations, including observations to support the effective monitoring and management of the world’s forested regions; food security; disaster risk management; biodiversity; capacity building; data availability and access, among other topics.

CEOS' Working Group on Capacity Building and Data Democracy (WGCapD) undertakes a variety of activities around Geodata access, dissemination and capacity building, in an effort to increase the capacity of institutions in developing countries for effective use of Earth Observation (EO) data for the benefit of society and to achieve sustainable development.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is Chair of CEOS WGCapD for the year 2019-2020, contributing significantly to CEOS activities, and have made capacity building in the BIMSTEC region a priority for the period of their chairmanship. The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), part of ISRO who will be helping create and run the training, are widely considered leaders in geospatial technology training and capacity building in Southeast Asia. Training provided by the Institute is designed to meet a wide range of needs including the requirements of industry professionals, new graduates, researchers, academics, and decision-makers.