A system for monitoring timber harvesting using satellite data in Central Africa
On June 29 2023, the new European law on the import of products associated with deforestation and forest degradation came into force. After a period of adaptation, operators and traders wishing to place products on the European market will have to be able to prove the origin of these products. In this context, a monitoring system adapted to Central African forest concessions, which cover 53.4 million hectares of forest, is required.
As part of Chloé Dupuis' thesis, a monitoring system adapted to the Central African context and using Sentinel-1 satellite data was developed. This system monitors logging operations on a monthly basis, estimates logging intensity (number and volume of trees cut per hectare) and offers greater accuracy than existing monitoring systems, which underestimate the damage caused by logging by 73 to 80%.
