Hitachi Systems case study
Monitoring Japanese community forests
Monitoring forests to optimize their health, impact and carbon value
Challenge
Solution
Everimpact worked with partner Visioterra, a leading Geospatial data consultancy servicing the European Space Agency and UNEP, to monitor the forest and agricultural land.
They used the following data:
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Best in class satellite imagery and ground data
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Expert carbon and biomass analysis based on gross productivity dynamics indicators, land use changes and forest productivity models since 2001
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Climate change impacts modeling using IPCC scenarios
The data was made available to HITACHI through an API and used to create dashboards for land managers from the local authority.
Impact
Everimpact advanced monitoring platform has allowed Hitachi and their clients to accurately assess several factors impacting the forest health and sequestration capacity so as to take mitigating actions;
This is a prerequisite to generate carbon credits.
Findings
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The forest is losing diversity
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The forest is aging - 70 years old, as a consequence, its NDVI is declining > IModel the impact of climate change (using IPCC scenarios) on the land to plan interventions. For example, the monitored land is expected to be drier under the effect of temperature rise and steady rainfall. This created higher wildfire risk for the incumbent species -conifers.
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The carbon stock of the forest and cultivated land is accurately tracked.
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The current and future carbon sequestration level of the forest and cultivated land with and without mitigation measures are monitored.
Mitigation measures
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Intervention required to remove older trees to make space for natural regeneration
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Plant younger trees to increase sequestration levels and biodiversity
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Regenerate forest with broadleaf species which are more adapted to a hotter and drier climate