I think this is the right forum for this. . .
I read a good article on the BBC site about a new Google backed (among others) global monitoring system to map the rates of deforestation AND forestation in close to real time. It is called the Global Forest Watch.
"It uses information from hundreds of millions of satellite images as well as data from people on the ground. Businesses have welcomed the new database as it could help them prove that their products are sustainable."
"While high resolution images of global tree loss and gain are updated annually, data on tropical forests at a resolution of 500 metres is updated monthly."
"The Earth lost 2.3m sq km of tree cover in 2000-12, because of logging, fire, disease or storms. But the planet also gained 800,000 sq km of new forest, meaning a net loss of 1.5m sq km. Brazil showed the best improvement of any country, cutting annual forest loss in half between 2003-04 and 2010-11"
This sounds like a good step toward exposing those who really grow more
trees than they cut down. Giving them a tool to show off their accomplishments. It could be a good tool to find areas where there is already a gain of forest (or loss for that matter) to direct
land purchase toward the areas of the world you would prefer to work with. IE nurturing the growth, or fighting to turn forest loss into gain.
Here is the article link :
New Online Tool Tracks Tree Loss in 'Near Real Time'
