July 2024 - Edition No. 1

SilvaCarbon leverages state-of-the-art science and technology to advance the generation and use of improved information related to forest and terrestrial carbon. Land cover mapping tools are an important component of this work, enabling accurate monitoring and reporting of land use changes, which is crucial for achieving climate change targets.

SilvaCarbon's innovative projects utilize a range of satellite data, such as optical, radar, and lidar sensors, to advance mapping technologies. This supports sustainable agriculture and land management practices, improves the monitoring of forest cover changes and deforestation, and contributes to the conservation of critical ecosystems. To learn more about SilvaCarbon land mapping tools, check out the tutorials in the Knowledge section of the SilvaCarbon website.

These projects also demonstrate the diverse applications of land cover mapping tools in supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Click below to learn more about how these innovative mapping tools are making a difference in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

SilvaCarbon is harnessing the power of Google Earth Engine to support Peru's forest monitoring efforts. Click here to read more!

SilvaCarbon is using a new generation of mapping tools for crop mapping in Cambodia. Click here to read more!

Using radar data, SilvaCarbon is monitoring and predicting deforestation in Gabon. Click here to read more!

Photo credit: FAO/Pilar Valbuena

Cameroon - South-South Cooperation Exchange on Operationalization of the National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS)

• July 9th - 11th, 2024
• Douala, Cameroon
• Congo basin countries will share their experiences on the establishment and operationalization of their NFMS and outline plans for implementing country-led processes.
• Point of Contact(s): Rene Siwe (rene.siwe@fs-ip.us)

Nepal – Training on the Use of Terrestrial and Satellite Lidar Data for Biomass Mapping

• July 22nd – 26th, 2024
• Pokhara, Nepal
• SERVIR – Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Hub and SilvaCarbon are collaborating with the Forest Research and Training Centre to deliver the second training on biomass mapping with the use of terrestrial and satellite lidar data.
• Point of Contact(s): Marija Kono (marija.spirovskakono@usda.gov)

Vietnam – Uncertainty Analysis for GHG Inventory Training

• July 23rd – 26th, 2024
• Hanoi, Vietnam
• The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Transparency Accelerator and SilvaCarbon are collaborating with the Government of Vietnam to conduct a training on uncertainty analysis for GHG-inventory data in support of the preparation of the first Biennial Transparency Report.
• Point of Contact(s): Vo Viet Cuong (cuong.voviet@fs-ip.us)

Cambodia – National Crop Mapping Workshop

• July – August (TBD), 2024
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• FAO, UNDP, and SilvaCarbon are collaborating with the General Directorate of Agriculture to convene policy makers, agriculture and forestry sector projects, and academia to present the final cashew maps and to discuss next steps for improved agricultural land mapping in the context of NDC implementation.
• Point of Contact(s): Marija Kono (marija.spirovskakono@usda.gov)

United States – Joint Meetings of the National Forest Inventory & the Climate, Atmospheric Change and Forests Working Groups

• August 5th – 9th, 2024
• Grey Towers, Pennsylvania, USA
• The North American Forest Commission (NAFC) will be convening the National Forest Inventory and the Climate, Atmospheric Change and Forests Working Groups.
• Point of Contact(s): Craig Wayson (craig.wayson@usda.gov) and Marcela Olguin (marcela.olguinalvarez@fs-ip.us)

United States – Latin-American Countries Exchange on Voluntary Carbon Markets and the Interaction with National Reporting

• August 6th – 8th, 2024
• Washington, DC, USA
• Following the discussions at the workshop on "South-South Exchange on Carbon Emissions Estimation and Carbon Markets" hosted in Colombia in early May 2024, a working group of several countries in Latin America will come together to discuss the task of accounting for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with established carbon standards, a prerequisite for participation in carbon markets. Building on the insights gained from the workshop, this gathering will look deeper into the intricacies of carbon accounting processes, sharing experiences and exploring best practices. 
• Point of Contact(s): Sylvia Wilson (snwilson@usgs.gov), Jennifer Smith (jennifer.c.smith@usda.gov)

Vanuatu – Monitoring Land Use Change with the SEPAL Cloud Computing Platform Workshop

• August 13th – 16th, 2024
• Port Vila, Vanuatu
• The Vanuatu Department of Forestry seeks to develop in-house capacity to generate Activity Data (AD) for their emissions calculations for both the historical and performance period. Previously the Department of Forestry hired a private German consulting firm to generate AD and make the necessary calculations for their 2023 Forest Reference Level (FRL) submission. This hands-on workshop aims to train government officers and other Vanuatu partners on how to use the SEPAL cloud computing platform to conduct time-series analysis and map land use change continuously over time. The workshop also will include sessions on how to assess the accuracy of AD area estimates and how to create unbiased area estimates with confidence intervals. Ultimately, the goal is to empower Vanuatu to produce AD and a second FRL on their own.     
• Point of Contact(s): Led by FAO / SilvaCarbon and GFOI. Paul Berkowitz (pberkowitz@usgs.gov), Sylvia Wilson (snwilson@usgs.gov), Erik Lindquist (Erik.Lindquist@fao.org)

Lao PDR – Training on Improved Emission Factors from Burned Biomass

• August (TBD), 2024
• Vientiane, Lao PDR
• Faculty of Forest Science, JICA F-REDD2 project, and SilvaCarbon are collaborating with the Government of Lao PDR to present the findings from the burned biomass emission factors study and to train GHG-inventory compilers to integrate the EFs in the next GHG-inventory.
• Point of Contact(s): Marija Kono (marija.spirovskakono@usda.gov)

Republic of Congo - Enhancing the Capacity of Congo Basin Countries for UNFCCC Reporting Processes for the AFOLU Sector

• August (TBD), 2024
• Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
• 5-day workshops will bring together 48 participants involved with national processes related to climate action and reporting and increase coherence in national GHG reporting among Congo Basin countries.
• Point of Contact(s): Eugene Chia (eugene.chia@fs-ip.us)

Equatorial Guinea - Exchange with Latin American Countries on Operationalizing a NFMS in Equatorial Guinea

• August (TBD), 2024
• National experts from Equatoria Guinea will exchange challenges and approaches for operationalizing a National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) through virtual meetings and an in-person meeting with Latin American Countries. 
• Point of Contact(s): Destin Lokegna (destin.lokegna@fs-ip.us)

Central Africa - Central Africa Women's Initiative for Climate Action

• Ongoing in 2024
• 135 women have been selected in 6 countries: Cameroon (20), Democratic Republic of Congo (20), Republic of Congo (20), Central Africa Republic (30), Equatorial Guinea (25), and Gabon (20). Women fellows participate in a series of seminars, workshops, webinars, internships, and a diploma program on GHG accounting.
• Point of Contact(s): Madhy Poba (madhy.poba@fs-ip.us)

• Check out the new SilvaCarbon Factsheet!
• A CEOS Strategy to Support the Global Stock Take of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. Page 10.
• CEOS & UNFCCC Global Stock Take User Stories

SilvaCarbon is a multi-agency technical cooperation program of the U.S. Government to strengthen the capacity of selected tropical countries in measuring, monitoring, and reporting forest and terrestrial carbon. Agencies that have contributed to SilvaCarbon include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), US Department of State (DOS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Program funding is provided by USAID and DOS and program implementation is currently led by USFS and USGS.



SilvaCarbon is also a U.S. Government contribution to the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI). SilvaCarbon co-leads the GFOI capacity-building component together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 



SilvaCarbon 2024 |www.usgs.gov/silvacarbon/