DECODE - Decoding disturbance and post-disturbance management from high-resolution satellite data in temperate forests of Europe

Funding and duration:

German Research Foundation | 2026-2029

Summary:

Europe’s forests are complex social–ecological systems that provide essential services to society, including carbon sequestration, water and air purification, timber production, and recreational value. Their ability to store carbon makes them particularly important for European climate mitigation efforts, which aim to substantially increase forest carbon uptake by 2030 to help offset emissions from other land-use sectors. However, this goal is increasingly threatened by a rise in forest disturbances, such as windthrow, bark beetle outbreaks, and fire, driven by changing climate conditions. We address this challenge by advancing the monitoring of forest disturbances across Europe using novel remote sensing approaches that combine data from the Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical satellite missions. This integration enables disturbance detection at high spatial (10 m) and temporal resolution, capturing small-scale, rapidly evolving events that are often missed by existing products. Our project aims to decode complex disturbance sequences and distinguish between natural disturbances and subsequent management interventions, such as salvage logging. We will develop a 10-year, weekly dataset of tree cover loss in temperate forests (2016–2025) and characterise disturbance dynamics, timing, and management responses across Central Europe. The project will deliver new insights to support more effective forest management and conservation under accelerating climate change.

Project owner: 

For more information please contact: Jessica.Soto(at)tum.de

Recent publications: 

Current publications are in process and will be posted once available.