Deforestation
Quantifies the extent and temporal dynamics of forest cover loss within a defined area, enabling the monitoring and assessment of ecosystem degradation and land-use change.
availability
On Demand
Now
indicator tier
Silver
unit
Hectares; Percent
spatial resolution
30m
measurement frequency
Annual
measurement level
Plot
historic data availability
2020 - 2024
Forescast data availability
N/A
applicable crop types
All
applicable land type
Grassland
Forestry
Perennial Cropland
Annual Cropland
compliance frameworks
CSRD (ESRS E4), EUDR, Nature Positive Initiative (NPI), SBTN, SBTi, TNFD
description
This indicator tracks the loss of forest cover. Monitoring deforestation is critical for assessing environmental impact, as it is a primary driver of biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions. For businesses, this data is essential for ensuring supply chain transparency, complying with international regulations like the EUDR, and mitigating reputational risks associated with forest-risk commodities.
methodology
Deforestation detection is conducted using satellite imagery that tracks changes in forest cover since 2020. This involves analyzing the “lossyear” data layer from the Global Forest Change data and RADD (Radar for Detecting Deforestation), and baselining it with Google natural forets 2020 data to quantify deforestation in specified plots. 2020 is chosen as the baseline year to conform to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
validation
The verification of this indicator involves the use of reliable datasets from Global Forest Watch, including the Hansen Global Forest Change dataset and the RADD (Radar for Detecting Deforestation) alerts. These datasets provide consistent, high-resolution information on forest cover loss and near-real-time deforestation events. By integrating both optical-based (Hansen) and radar-based (RADD) observations, the approach improves the robustness of the verification process and helps ensure reliable detection of forest disturbance across different environmental conditions.
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