Woods Hole Research Center

East Kalimantan, Indonesia – 8-12 November 2010

In November 2010, WHRC scientists traveled to Samarinda on the island of Borneo, Indonesia to conduct a technical training on biomass estimation and forest-cover mapping in the tropics. Held in partnership with the Center for Climate Change Studies at the University of Mulawarman, the five-day workshop brought together 33 participants from seven Southeast Asian countries to discuss methods for generating regional and national-level biomass (carbon) and forest-cover distribution maps.

The event was a continuation from WHRC’s 2009 regional workshop in Vietnam that introduced forest monitoring approaches in the context of international climate policy processes for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD). Government and NGO representatives from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, along with local university students, attended the Indonesia training. Workshop content included:

• Experiences and lessons-learned from forest and carbon monitoring in the tropics and Southeast Asia
• Computer training on generation of biomass maps integrating field measurements and remotely sensed data
• Computer training on forest/non-forest mapping with Radar.
• Use of open-Source (free) and GIS software for forest biomass estimation
• Data options for producing carbon maps
• Discussions on forest monitoring in the context of Measuring, Reporting and Verification systems for REDD

In addition to technical training and outreach efforts on forest monitoring methods, WHRC collaborates with in-country partners for the improvement of national-level biomass maps. The data from this research will be made freely available to forestry administrations and NGOs engaging in policies for reducing emissions from deforestation. WHRC expresses its gratitude to the Center for Climate Change Studies at the University of Mulawarman, The Nature Conservancy and staff of the Berau REDD working group for their assistance and collaboration in outreach and field efforts in Indonesia.