%0 Journal Article
%A Su, Yang
%A Schwartz, Martin
%A Fayad, Ibrahim
%A García, Mariano
%A Zavala, Miguel A.
%A Tijerín-Triviño, Julián
%A Astigarraga, Julen
%A Cruz Alonso, Verónica
%A Liu, Siyu
%A Zhang, Xianglin
%A Chen, Songchao
%A Ritter, François
%A Besic, Nikola
%A d’Aspremont, Alexandre
%A Ciais, Philippe
%T Canopy height and biomass distribution across the forests of Iberian Peninsula
%D 2025
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120649
%X Accurate mapping of vegetation canopy height and biomass distribution is essential for effective forest monitoring, climate change mitigation, and sustainable forestry. Here we present high-resolution remote sensing-based canopy height (10 m resolution) and above ground biomass (AGB, 50 m resolution) maps for the forests of the Iberian Peninsula from 2017 to 2021, using a deep learning framework that integrates Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and LiDAR data. Two UNET models were developed: one trained on Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data (MAE: 1.22 m), while another using Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) footprints (MAE: 3.24 m). External validation with 6,308 Spanish National Forest Inventory (NFI) plots (2017–2019) confirmed canopy height reliability, showing MAEs of 2–3 m in tree-covered areas. AGB estimates were obtained through Random Forest models that linked UNET derived height predictions to NFI AGB data, achieves an MAE of ~29 Mg/ha. The creation of high-resolution maps of canopy height and biomass across various forest landscapes in the Iberian Peninsula provides a valuable new tool for environmental researchers, policy makers, and forest management professionals, offering detailed insights that can inform conservation strategies, carbon sequestration efforts, and sustainable forest management practices.
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