Overview of Biomass Mapping The Woods Hole Research Center Alessandro Baccini, Wayne Walker and Ned Horning November 8 – 12, Samarinda, Indonesia

Forest Inventories Stratify & Multiply (SM) Approach – Assign an average biomass value to land cover /vegetation type map Combine & Assign (CA) Approach – Extension of SM, with GIS and multi-layer information / weightings (Gibbs et al. 2007) Direct Remote Sensing (DR) Approach – Empirical Models where RS data is calibrated to field estimates ( Baccini et al. 2004, Blackard et al Baccini et al ) Goetz et al Large Area Biomass Estimation

Apply Model to Regional Data Inputs and Model Flow Surface Reflectance (NBAR) – View-angle corrected surface reflectance – Pixel mosaic of best quality NBAR – 7 land bands + derived metrics Biomass training set Extract Training for Biomass Sites Biomass Map Estimate Tree Model

Available Forest Inventory Data Only few countries/regions have updated forest inventory data Measurements are not consistent (D.B.H, species sampled, design) Spatial distribution non optimal for remote sensing integration and scaling up MODIS 500 m grid over Landsat data and FAO field transects (white lines)

Remote Sensing – Biomass Calibration 500 m MODIS pixel Average Value Biomass Value Field data measurements LiDAR observations

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS)

Vegetation structure from Lidar (GLAS) 70 m Lidar metrics have been extensively used to characterize vegetation structure (Sun et al. 2008, Lefsky et al. 2005, Lefsky et al. 1999) Drake et al. (2003), Lefsky et al. 2005, Drake et al found a strong relationship between AGB and Lidar metrics (HOME)

Distribution of forest inventory data in Central Africa Cameroon, Rep of Congo, Uganda Field biomass measurements MODIS 1km NBAR (RGB 2,6,1)

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) The figure shows 30 % of the GLAS L2A (year 2003) shots after screening procedure. We used 1.3 million observation

Forest Inventory Design for Remote Sensing Calibration and Validation Objective: – A network of new field measurements using a standardized methodology at the sub-national, national and international level – Optimized for remote sensing integration Predefined locations Plot size smaller then remote sensing foot print

500 m MODIS pixel Scaling to RS Resolution Average Value Biomass Value

Sample Plot Predefined location Square shape 40 m by 40 m Only basic variables recorded Nord West South East 40 meters

Field Measurements and Data Collection Tree DBH measurements All trees with D.B.H > 5 cm Tree Height Tallest 3 trees within 25 m Land cover/Land use Description

Equipment for Forest Measurement

GPSGPS

CompassCompass

Nylon Measuring Tape

Diameter Tape

ClinometerClinometer

CameraCamera

Goals To bring together practitioners in forest biometrics to share information on tools, techniques, and protocols to improve forest inventory designs To standardize protocols that ensure consistency in measurement acquisition and statistical soundness in sampling design To collect field data to help validate and improve above- ground biomass estimates throughout the area