Tropical forests are key to the global carbon balance but face serious threats from deforestation and degradation. Accurate estimates of above-ground biomass density (AGBD) are crucial for climate reporting and initiatives like REDD+, yet many West African countries lack reliable forest inventory data. This limits their ability to monitor carbon stocks, validate remote sensing data, and access climate finance.To address these gaps, FAO launched the “Global Transformation of Forests for People and Climate: A focus on West Africa” project. The initiative integrates satellite LiDAR data from NASA’s GEDI with field plots and UAV-based laser scanning (UAV-LS) to produce consistent, high-quality AGBD estimates. Implemented with partners in Ghana, Oxford, and Maryland, the project aims to build harmonized regional biomass datasets that strengthen forest monitoring and support effective climate action across West Africa.
