2022.11.10 THU

11:45 - 12:45

How can satellites improve Forest Monitoring and Management?

Organizer

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agancy

Co-organizer

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Kenya Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Kenya Forest Service

Seminar abstract

This seminar will discuss how Japanese Earth Observation satellites contribute to improving forest monitoring and management, as well as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Africa and around the world. The progress in the development of the REDD+ readiness including national forest monitoring system (NFMS) which is an integration of information from earth observation system and on the ground monitoring system as well as Safeguard Information System (SIS) on the social and environmental factors in Kenya, Mozambique and Indonesia will be presented. In addition, new efforts to understand both sinks and sources will be presented, capturing trends in photosynthetic activity and changes in CO2 concentrations in forests in the African region that have not been captured by conventional observations.

【Agenda of the Event】

1. Opening remarks
2. Keynote Presentation "How can satellites improve Forest Monitoring and Management? "
3. Panel Discussion
   • Progress of REDD+ readiness and institutional arrangements
   • Innovation in NFMS for credible and standardized carbon accounting to achieve NDC
4. Closing Remarks

Speakers

【Local Speakers】

• Yasuko Inoue（JICA SFS-CORECC Project, Kenya） Expert on Forest Policy
• Julius Tanui（Kenya Watertower Agency） CEO
• Hiroshi Suto（Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)） Senior Researcher
• Peter N. Nduati（Kenya Forest Service） Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests
• Alfred Gichu （Ministry of Environment and Forestry, , Government of Kenya） National Focal Point of REDD+, Forest Conservation Secretary
• Peter Sirayo（Kenya Forest Service） Conservator of Forests
• Geoffrey Omedo （United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)） Portfolio Analyst
• Belinda Arunarwati Margono （Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Government of Indonesia） Director of Forest Resources Inventory and Monitoring
• Joaquim Macuacua（Ministry of Land and Environment, Government of Mozambique） National Directorate of Forests
• Yutaka Kawashima（Forestry Agency, Government of Japan） Director, Forest Carbon Sink Strategy Office

【Online Speakers】

• Jonathan Roberts（United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)）Project Manager of IMPRESS (UK PACT)

Session Summary

As a keynote speech, JAXA’s new efforts to understand both sinks and sources by capturing trends in photosynthetic activity and changes in CO2 concentrations in forests by satellites were introduced by Dr. Hiroshi Suto and stimulated the discussions after.
During the panel discussion, the speakers from Kenya, Mozambique, and Indonesia introduced their progress of REDD+ readiness where they established their forest reference levels and National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) with JICA’s support.
They introduced the innovative satellite technology in NFMS for credible and standardized carbon accounting to achieve NDC. As a part of such efforts, JAXA’s ALOS-2 satellite as well as “JICA-JAXA Forest Early Warning System in the Tropics (JJ-FAST)” have been contributing to forest change monitoring in their countries.
The speakers from UNDP and FAO also joined the panel and kindly shared the information on relevant initiatives and projects including satellite technology for imroving measurements to reduce emissions and strenghen sinks in Kenya.

Event Materials

• 01_Hiroshi Suto
• 02_Alfred Gichu
• 03_Peter Sirayo
• 04_Belinda Arunarwati Margono
• 05_Joaquim Macuacua

Message and Results

In addition to the accomplishments to date, future plans for further improvments and facing challenges including lack of human resources in remote sensing are shared and discussed. The participants recognized the importance of robust carbon accounting and monitoring system and technical advancement.