Biomass satellite could reveal concealed deforestation

The European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed the first images from its groundbreaking satellite mission that uses new technology to unlock deeper insights into remote forests and even pinpoint illegal deforestation.

Biomass – an Earth Explorer research mission developed – is the first satellite to carry a type of radar that uses a signal to penetrate forest canopies to measure woody biomass – trunks, branches and stems.