fbpx

Insight

From Space to our forests: Our collaboration with the European Space Agency to verify carbon credits

Last October marked a new era for Klimate. We have been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to participate in a feasibility study to develop better measurements of biomass growth in our forestry projects. We now have satellites on our side to back up our data. Pretty cool right?  For the sake of the project, our team traveled all the way to Timor Leste. We visited Fundação Carbon Offset Timor (FCOTI), one of our forestry suppliers, and collected data that will back up the satellite imagery. The project that runs until March 2023 aims to add an extra layer of verification to our forestry projects. 
The project
Feasibility study in collaboration with ESA
The point of the project is to explore how to use satellite images combined with a mathematical algorithm and machine learning to detect biomass growth in forestry projects. The project develops a pilot system to track and verify carbon credits from forestry CO2 sequestration.
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Model development and testing
  • User engagement and roll out
How data collection works
To be able to monitor sequestrated carbon in a forest with satellite imagery, we need a  combination of multiple data sources. That means that we need to perform “ground truthing” in an area of interest. Our work in the FCOTI forests involved collection of data on the biomass by measuring the size of the trees, noting the tree species and their exact GPS position. This data results in an estimation of biomass in the area, which can then be compared to the results of Atla.ai’s biomass estimations via satellite imagery.This way, we can know how accurate the current satellite estimates are, and feed the machine learning algorithm data in order to improve its estimations.

    Steps of data collection

     

    1. The team led by Simon Bager and Marta Piscarreta performed biomass measurements
    2. Three or four measurements took place per day, in a new area each day. The team has collected data in two areas. We divided the forest into quadrants to collect information on forest characteristics. This includes tree species, the circumference of the trees and their geographical position.
    3. The focus was mainly on bigger parcels to get uniform data
        Our trip to Timor-Leste

        The purpose of the field visit to Timor-Leste was to collect data from the Halo Verde project forests to establish ground-truth measurements for above-ground biomass estimations. 

        To date, the FCOTI project has planted approximately 75 ha in 151 sites, with the direct participation of 115 households benefiting more than 800 individuals. The project is aiming for a total reforested area of approximately 322 ha by the end of 2029.

        By visiting Timor Leste and getting in touch with the local communities we had the chance to evaluate as well the social benefits that the project offers to the people involved.

          What we want to achieve 
          The feasibility study is running until March 2023. Depending on the outcome of the study, ESA will decide on whether to support a pilot study to further scale up this digital solution. With this solution, we will be able to monitor, assess, and verify carbon credits in forestry projects.

          By implementing the monitoring and verification system proposed based on satellite data of carbon removal, Klimate can reduce the risk of procuring untrustworthy or poor credits. In this way we can significantly improve the quality of our services, as well as the general market for forest-based Carbon Removal Units. This system could initially be applied to vet existing forestry projects and to identify new project opportunities, but could at a later stage also be applied to additional project types beyond forests (agriculture, enhanced weathering, BECSS, DAC, blue carbon, etc.).

            From space to our clients

            For our customers, it is important to purchase carbon removal credits that are verified.  By having an additional layer of monitoring, Klimate could increase the credibility of carbon removal credits originating from forestry projects. We thus protect customers against any scrutiny they might face.

            Additionally, it will bring value to our projects to visualize carbon removal monitoring through satellite imagery and its evolution over the years.

            Learn more about Forestation and our associated forestry projects.

              Learn more
              Suppliers benefits

              When it comes to our suppliers, they want their projects to be perceived as of high quality and they want to be seen as a trusted carbon removal provider. This is enabled by doing additional verification of the credits they provide. Additionally, suppliers can have a simplified approach to calculating their carbon removal in an accurate way.

              Are you a supplier? Get in touch if you have available credits in a high-quality carbon removal project. We will add your project to our platform and include it in our portfolios.

              Get in touch
              Book a demo

              Talk to a carbon removal strategist

              Finding the right way to remove your CO₂ emissions can seem overwhelming. Luckily, we are always here to help. You can book a meeting to walk through how our solution might fit your needs, or simply send us a message.

              Book a demo

              Talk to a carbon removal strategist

              Finding the right way to remove your CO₂ emissions can seem overwhelming. Luckily, we are always here to help. You can book a meeting to walk through how our solution might fit your needs, or simply send us a message.