Dr. Frédéric Achard is a senior scientist at the Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy. Having joined the JRC in 1992, he started research over Southeast Asia in the framework of the TREES project. His current research interests include the development of Earth observation techniques for global and regional forest monitoring, and the assessment of the implications of forest cover changes in the tropics and boreal Eurasia on the global carbon budget. Dr. Achard received his Ph.D. in tropical ecology and remote sensing from Toulouse University, Toulouse, France, in 1989. He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals including Nature, Science, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Forest Ecology and Management, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, and Remote Sensing of Environment. Dr. Matthew C. Hansenis a professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has a bachelor of electrical engineering degree from Auburn University, Alabama, USA. His graduate degrees include a master of engineering in civil engineering and a master of arts in geography from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a doctoral degree in geography from the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. His research specialization is in large area land cover monitoring using multi-spectral, multi-temporal, and multi-resolution remotely sensed data sets. He is an associate member of the MODIS (moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer) Land Science Team and a member of the GOFC-GOLD Implementation Working Group.

"This book by Achard and Hansen is timely and most welcome ... . With the help of key international experts, this volume reviews achievements in using a range of satellite data sources and in applying latest developments in remote sensing science. ... this book also constitutes a good base for addressing future needs in terms of technology and novel applications. In addition, the information contained in the impressive list of contributions to this volume significantly adds to the scientific understanding of the role of forest in the earth system. Changes which are currently taking place in many forested areas of the world are rapid; the necessity of providing regular reviews such as the one presented here by Achard and Hansen is, indeed, critical."—Jean P. Malingreau, Scientific Adviser, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

• Why Forest Monitoring Matters for People and the Planet. Role of Forests and Impact of Deforestation in the Global Carbon Cycle. Use of Earth Observation Technology to Monitor Forests over the Globe. Global Data Availability from US Satellites: Landsat and MODIS. Sampling Strategies for Forest Monitoring from Global to National Levels. Use of Coarse Resolution Imagery to Identify Hot Spots of Forest Loss at the Global Scale. Use of a Systematic Statistical Sample with Moderate Resolution Imagery to Assess Forest Cover Changes at Tropical to Global Scale. Monitoring Forest Loss and Degradation at National to Global Scales Using Landsat Data. The Brazilian Amazon Monitoring Program: PRODES and DETER Projects. Monitoring of Forest Degradation: A Review of Methods in the Amazon Basin. Use of Wall-to-Wall Moderate and High-Resolution Satellite Imagery to Monitor Forest Cover Across Europe. Monitoring US Forest Dynamics with Landsat. Long-Term Monitoring of Australian Land Cover Change Using Landsat Data: Development, Implementation, and Operation. Assessment of Burned Forest Areas over the Russian Federation from MODIS and Landsat-TM/ETM+ Imagery. Global Forest Monitoring with Radar (SAR) Data. Future Perspectives (Way Forward). Index.

Dr. Frédéric Achard is a senior scientist at the Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy. Having joined the JRC in 1992, he started research over Southeast Asia in the framework of the TREES project. His current research interests include the development of Earth observation techniques for global and regional forest monitoring, and the assessment of the implications of forest cover changes in the tropics and boreal Eurasia on the global carbon budget. Dr. Achard received his Ph.D. in tropical ecology and remote sensing from Toulouse University, Toulouse, France, in 1989. He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals including Nature, Science, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Forest Ecology and Management, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, and Remote Sensing of Environment. Dr. Matthew C. Hansenis a professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has a bachelor of electrical engineering degree from Auburn University, Alabama, USA. His graduate degrees include a master of engineering in civil engineering and a master of arts in geography from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a doctoral degree in geography from the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. His research specialization is in large area land cover monitoring using multi-spectral, multi-temporal, and multi-resolution remotely sensed data sets. He is an associate member of the MODIS (moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer) Land Science Team and a member of the GOFC-GOLD Implementation Working Group.

"This book by Achard and Hansen is timely and most welcome ... . With the help of key international experts, this volume reviews achievements in using a range of satellite data sources and in applying latest developments in remote sensing science. ... this book also constitutes a good base for addressing future needs in terms of technology and novel applications. In addition, the information contained in the impressive list of contributions to this volume significantly adds to the scientific understanding of the role of forest in the earth system. Changes which are currently taking place in many forested areas of the world are rapid; the necessity of providing regular reviews such as the one presented here by Achard and Hansen is, indeed, critical."—Jean P. Malingreau, Scientific Adviser, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

• Why Forest Monitoring Matters for People and the Planet. Role of Forests and Impact of Deforestation in the Global Carbon Cycle. Use of Earth Observation Technology to Monitor Forests over the Globe. Global Data Availability from US Satellites: Landsat and MODIS. Sampling Strategies for Forest Monitoring from Global to National Levels. Use of Coarse Resolution Imagery to Identify Hot Spots of Forest Loss at the Global Scale. Use of a Systematic Statistical Sample with Moderate Resolution Imagery to Assess Forest Cover Changes at Tropical to Global Scale. Monitoring Forest Loss and Degradation at National to Global Scales Using Landsat Data. The Brazilian Amazon Monitoring Program: PRODES and DETER Projects. Monitoring of Forest Degradation: A Review of Methods in the Amazon Basin. Use of Wall-to-Wall Moderate and High-Resolution Satellite Imagery to Monitor Forest Cover Across Europe. Monitoring US Forest Dynamics with Landsat. Long-Term Monitoring of Australian Land Cover Change Using Landsat Data: Development, Implementation, and Operation. Assessment of Burned Forest Areas over the Russian Federation from MODIS and Landsat-TM/ETM+ Imagery. Global Forest Monitoring with Radar (SAR) Data. Future Perspectives (Way Forward). Index.

Dr. Frédéric Achard is a senior scientist at the Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy. Having joined the JRC in 1992, he started research over Southeast Asia in the framework of the TREES project. His current research interests include the development of Earth observation techniques for global and regional forest monitoring, and the assessment of the implications of forest cover changes in the tropics and boreal Eurasia on the global carbon budget. Dr. Achard received his Ph.D. in tropical ecology and remote sensing from Toulouse University, Toulouse, France, in 1989. He has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals including Nature, Science, International Journal of Remote Sensing, Forest Ecology and Management, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, and Remote Sensing of Environment. Dr. Matthew C. Hansenis a professor in the Department of Geographical Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has a bachelor of electrical engineering degree from Auburn University, Alabama, USA. His graduate degrees include a master of engineering in civil engineering and a master of arts in geography from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a doctoral degree in geography from the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. His research specialization is in large area land cover monitoring using multi-spectral, multi-temporal, and multi-resolution remotely sensed data sets. He is an associate member of the MODIS (moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer) Land Science Team and a member of the GOFC-GOLD Implementation Working Group.

"This book by Achard and Hansen is timely and most welcome ... . With the help of key international experts, this volume reviews achievements in using a range of satellite data sources and in applying latest developments in remote sensing science. ... this book also constitutes a good base for addressing future needs in terms of technology and novel applications. In addition, the information contained in the impressive list of contributions to this volume significantly adds to the scientific understanding of the role of forest in the earth system. Changes which are currently taking place in many forested areas of the world are rapid; the necessity of providing regular reviews such as the one presented here by Achard and Hansen is, indeed, critical."—Jean P. Malingreau, Scientific Adviser, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

• Why Forest Monitoring Matters for People and the Planet. Role of Forests and Impact of Deforestation in the Global Carbon Cycle. Use of Earth Observation Technology to Monitor Forests over the Globe. Global Data Availability from US Satellites: Landsat and MODIS. Sampling Strategies for Forest Monitoring from Global to National Levels. Use of Coarse Resolution Imagery to Identify Hot Spots of Forest Loss at the Global Scale. Use of a Systematic Statistical Sample with Moderate Resolution Imagery to Assess Forest Cover Changes at Tropical to Global Scale. Monitoring Forest Loss and Degradation at National to Global Scales Using Landsat Data. The Brazilian Amazon Monitoring Program: PRODES and DETER Projects. Monitoring of Forest Degradation: A Review of Methods in the Amazon Basin. Use of Wall-to-Wall Moderate and High-Resolution Satellite Imagery to Monitor Forest Cover Across Europe. Monitoring US Forest Dynamics with Landsat. Long-Term Monitoring of Australian Land Cover Change Using Landsat Data: Development, Implementation, and Operation. Assessment of Burned Forest Areas over the Russian Federation from MODIS and Landsat-TM/ETM+ Imagery. Global Forest Monitoring with Radar (SAR) Data. Future Perspectives (Way Forward). Index.