LB 12-120 - Using Earth Observations to monitor ecosystems and deforestation for improved decision-making around the globe

Deforestation and ecosystem disturbance are among the most important challenges to global efforts to mitigate and increase resilience to climate change. SERVIR, an initiative of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), works in partnership with leading regional organizations world-wide to help developing countries use information provided by Earth observing satellites and geospatial technologies. Earth Observations (EO) provide invaluable data and broad spatial coverage for studying ecological processes and landscape-level changes where field data may be sparse or difficult to obtain. SERVIR combines EO with a needs-driven approach to ecological and landscape monitoring to enhance impacts on the ground and ensure the sustainability of science-based tools. We show several examples of regional needs-driven projects developed by SERVIR with the goal of improving ecological monitoring. In Guyana, we developed a national mangrove monitoring system leveraging optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to identify areas of mangrove loss and evaluate government investments in mangrove restoration sites. In Kenya, we used a species distribution modeling approach to map invasive species for improved treatments and removal. In Peru and Ghana, we applied machine learning to detect illegal gold mining in service of improved monitoring of illegal activities. Lastly, in Cambodia, we employed a deforestation monitoring alert system based on SAR imagery for improved monitoring of protected areas. This poster demonstrates how needs-driven geospatial science allows for sustained uptake and impact of resulting tools, leading to enhanced ecological monitoring and science-based decision making globally.