2024 saw the update of the European Forest Disturbance Atlas, introducing a new standard for forest monitoring. Alba Viana-Soto, a postdoctoral Earth Observation scientist at the Technical University of Munich and ForestPaths partner, was part of the team behind this crucial undertaking. At the project’s most recent annual general meeting in September 2024, she gave an interview on how the Atlas was improved and why it was important to do so. 

More specifically, an account was given on the context that highlights why these maps were essential - the increasing number of disturbances in forests due to climate change and extreme events as well as the growing demand for wood products. Taking these factors into account, Dr. Viana-Soto stressed that Earth Observation technologies can provide vital information needed to consistently and effectively monitor forest ecosystems at the continental scale.  

Among the changes introduced in this latest version was an expanded timeframe, covering disturbances since the 1980s. The team also ensured that multiple overlapping disturbances could be tracked in the same area during the last four decades. In that sense, the Atlas now allows users to freely explore the disturbance frequency and disturbance agents they wish to monitor in a broad timeframe within Europe.  

These maps represent a crucial first step towards an operational forest monitoring system across the continent and are poised to be an instrument that could greatly assist stakeholders and policymakers. Moreover, the software allows for regular content updates, meaning that the maps will remain up-to-date in the future.  

You can read more about the maps here. The full interview can be accessed below: