AIM4Forests’ For Growth: Advancing Forest Monitoring with AI solutions

Forests are crucial for absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, but accurately measuring this has been a challenge, especially for countries with limited resources for large-scale forest monitoring. AIM4Forests, a programme launched by FAO and funded by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, seeks to address this issue by leveraging modern technologies like space data, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI).  

The main objective of AIM4Forests is to improve the methodological basis for accurate Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of forest carbon. Forests are a key part of the global carbon cycle, but there’s uncertainty in how much carbon they actually remove from the atmosphere. To resolve this, the For-Growth initiative under AIM4Forests was launched, aiming to provide more precise data on carbon removals by integrating repeated ground-based forest inventory data with AI-powered models. 

Dr. Jingjing Liang, Associate Professor of Quantitative Forest Ecology from Purdue University, has joined FAO's Forest Monitoring and Data Platforms team, as an International Consultant, to lead the integration of forest data with the MATRIX model, an AI-driven system he developed with funding from the World Resources Institute (WRI). MATRIX uses data from over 1.8 million forest plots globally, offering both local and worldwide insights into forest dynamics. This may contribute to support countries in improving their forest management strategies, leading to more sustainable conservation and restoration efforts. 

Improving accessibility and collaboration in forest carbon management 

AIM4Forests also focuses on making data accessible and transparent. For-Growth will deliver a global map and database to assist countries with limited resources in reporting accurate greenhouse gas removals. The MATRIX model follows FAIR data principles, ensuring the data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. This transparency benefits a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, and forest managers. 

In addition, For-Growth will strengthen national forest inventories and foster international collaboration by promoting knowledge-sharing and best practices. It will also involve developing capacities of forest managers and policymakers in countries to use the AI solutions, including the MATRIX model, ensuring they can continue to monitor and manage forests effectively in the long term. 

Looking ahead, AIM4Forests is set to revolutionize forest monitoring by integrating AI with ground-based data. These innovations will help countries better track carbon removal and make informed decisions in forest conservation and climate action.