Forest Disturbance Early Warning System

The Forest Disturbance Early Warning System (FDEWS) provides regularly updated information using free radar Earth observation (EO) data from Sentinel-1 about likely forest disturbances, even when skies are cloudy. Maps show disturbances that have occurred since baseline, with the date of first detection. These products readily improve knowledge of forest change and enable proactive intervention by the relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Environment to prevent further damage to the remaining forest. The FDEWS allows limited forest patrol resources to be efficiently focussed in worst- affected areas for quick location of potentially illegal incursions.