Satellites Scan Congo for Forest Health

The European Space Agency's Biomass satellite, launched in April 2025, is employing advanced P-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to monitor the health of the Congo rainforest. By penetrating the forest canopy with ultra-long radio waves, it measures tree trunks and branches, providing a proxy for stored carbon. This technology is deemed essential for rainforest conservation, offering early warnings of forest decline.

Breakthroughs in satellite hardware and AI software are enhancing the use of this data. AI capabilities allow for massive-scale data interrogation, paving the way for predictive analytics that can alert companies to deforestation risks in their supply chains. For vast, inaccessible areas like the Congo rainforest, satellites offer the only practical method for tracking deforestation threats.

Innovations in satellite monitoring are also addressing issues within carbon markets, particularly REDD+ schemes. Newer methodologies, like Verra's VM0048, use satellite imagery to determine deforestation rates, reducing the "systematic over-crediting" that previously plagued projects. This approach helps ensure more accurate credit issuance and financial value for conservation efforts.

Companies like ICEYE, with its constellation of SAR satellites, provide near-real-time coverage, even through clouds and canopy cover, aiding conservation efforts for biodiversity like chimpanzees in the DRC. While challenges remain in intervening effectively where government authority is limited, improved satellite data empowers organizations to alert authorities and act proactively.