Strategic Support

Remote Sensing for Carbon Forestry

Remote sensing plays a vital role in modern carbon forestry, enabling accurate and scalable forest monitoring for carbon credit certification and ecosystem restoration. At OpenForests, we integrate cutting-edge geospatial technologies—such as satellite imagery, LiDAR, and drone mapping—to support nature-based carbon projects with transparent, science-based data. From baselining and biomass estimation to long-term carbon stock monitoring, our solutions empower land stewards and project developers to unlock credible, verifiable climate impact.

Deforestation analysis of concession area

Remote sensing provides a scalable, cost-effective way to assess forest carbon and land-use change across large and remote areas. By leveraging high-resolution satellite data, LiDAR, and drone-based imagery, carbon forestry practitioners can detect deforestation, monitor reforestation progress, and quantify biomass over time. These tools are essential for establishing reliable baselines, tracking additionality, and ensuring the credibility of carbon credits issued through voluntary and compliance markets. Our remote sensing services are tailored to the specific needs of forest carbon projects, combining spatial analysis with ecological intelligence to deliver actionable insights

Your requirements

How to get started?

Forest carbon standards such as Verra, Gold standard, and Plan Vivo are used to generate carbon credits. Depending on the project type, e.g. reforestation, improved forest management, and avoided deforestation, there are specific requirements for remote sensing and monitoring. We help you to answer the following questions.

1. Which standard for what project type?

What is my project type? Reforestation, improved forest management, or avoided deforestation? What standard works best for me? Verra, Gold standard, or Plan Vivo?

2. What is the baseline and historical deforestation?

What is the current land cover and corresponding carbon sequestration? What are the historical trends of deforestation and degradation? What is the forest gain?

3. What is the carbon potential?

How much carbon emission can be avoided, e.g. by stopping deforestation, or how much carbon can be additionally stored, e.g. by planting trees or improved forest management practices?

4. How to monitor changes over time?

What are efficient methods to monitor and report forest cover changes and the sequestration of carbon in the biomass over time?

Service

All remote sensing work for your project

Together with our clients we select the appropriate methodological frameworks, procure the necessary data, and conduct the required analysis.

Whether you're developing REDD+ projects, monitoring restoration, or verifying carbon removals, our remote sensing expertise supports transparent, science-driven reporting. We help you meet MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) standards with confidence—ensuring your forest carbon project meets the expectations of investors, certifiers, and the planet.

Methodology selection

We help to find the remote sensing approach that works accurately and is cost-effective.

Remote sensing analysis

We create all required data and maps such as historic and current land cover, projection of future deforestation.

Continous monitoring

We monitor land-use change and carbon stock with regular satellite-based monitoring.

Remote Sensing

Forest Change Detection

Example of forest classification maps and forest loss detection.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What carbon forest standard can you recommend?

There is no one standard to be recommended. The selection of a carbon certification standard depends on the recognition of a respective standard, project type, location, available budget, expertise, and addressed markets for carbon offset sales.

Do I need very specific expertise to navigate through the forest carbon certification procedure?

Yes. The generation of carbon credits can help to create the required project funding, but until certification, it can take months and even years and considerable resources. We would recommend involving an expert for the remote sensing work as well as for navigating the certification process internally.

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