Global Forest Watch (GFW) provides global maps of carbon dioxide emitted and captured by forests, letting users visualize and quantify historical emissions and sequestration (removals) in areas such as countries, provinces, corporate land holdings and protected areas. GFW also continues to improve the forest carbon flux monitoring framework. GFW’s expert-led office hours on September 18 provided an overview of the carbon data and information on how to access and analyze it using GFW’s platform and tools. During office hours, users had the opportunity to ask questions, work through problems and share lessons learned.

2. Presenters
David Gibbs
Research Associate
Global Forest Watch
Isabela Barriga
Engagement Specialist​
Global Forest Watch
Moderator
Mel Rose
GIS Research Analyst
Global Forest Watch

3. Office Hours Instructions
• Enter questions or comments through the “Q&A” button. We will
have a Q&A at the end of the presentation
• To ask a question live, please raise your hand

4. AGENDA
• Intro to Office Hours
• Overview of GFW Carbon Data
• Questions from the Audience
• Wrap Up

5. GLOBAL FOREST WATCH
GFW offers a suite of forest
monitoring tools designed to:
• Increase knowledge and
transparency about forest
landscapes
• Harness information to
mobilize local action by
governments and civil society
• Advance private sector action
to stop commodity-driven
deforestation and manage
forests sustainably

6. GOALS OF
OFFICE HOURS:
• Community engagement
• Workshop questions or
problems
• Share lessons learned and
best practices

7. Poll!
Photo: World Resources Institute

8. WE BROADLY UNDERSTAND WHERE FORESTS
STORE CARBON
ESA CCI (2017)
GEDI griddedAGB (around 2020) Harris et al. 2021 (2000)
Saatchi et al. 2011 (early 2000s)

9. How much? 
Where? 
Why? 
FOREST CARBON FLUXES ARE MORE COMPLICATED
Note: Removals refers to carbon captured (sequestered) by forests.

10. SIMPLE ESTIMATE OF TROPICAL FOREST EMISSIONS
Emissions (t CO2) = Tree Cover Loss (ha) x Pre-disturbance Carbon Density (tonnes/ha)
CO2 emissions “Activity Data” “Emission Factor”
Zarin et al. 2016,
as formerly shown on GFW
Removals (t CO2) = Tree Cover Extent/Gain (ha) x Annual Sequestration Rate (tonnes/ha/yr)
CO2 removals “Activity Data” “RemovalFactor”

11. Harris et al. 2021
Create globally consistent 30-m maps of forest-
related greenhouse gas gross emissions, gross
removals, and net flux by combining spatial data on
forests with IPCC national GHG inventory methods
THE GOAL

12. FLEXIBLY MAPPING EMISSIONS AND REMOVALS
MODIS Burned Areas
Peatlands Plantations Intact Forests
Tree Biomass/Carbon Soil Carbon Young Forest Regrowth C Rates
and IPCC Default Rates
Tree Cover, Loss and Gain
And many more…
Harris et al. 2021; https://www.wri.org/insights/forests-absorb-twice-much-carbon-they-emit-each-year
Drivers of Forest Loss

13. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THESE MAPS?
Yes No
Estimate historical emissions, removals,
and net flux from forests in areas of
interest
Estimate carbon fluxes for all land uses
Estimate emissions and removals due to
all causes (human and natural)
Attribute emissions and removals to
human or natural activities at fine scale
Make globally standardized flux estimates
based on remote sensing data
Generate carbon credits/offsets(project,
REDD+, etc.)
Compare with national greenhouse gas
inventories and other forest flux estimates
Expect that these will be the same as
other forest flux estimates
Identify places with substantial emissions
and removals to prioritize for intervention
Make detailed decisions about specific
places and land uses without additional
local information
Note: Not an exhaustive list

14. MAPPING POTENTIAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION
FOR NATURALLY REGENERATING FORESTS <30 YEARS
Cook-Patton et al. 2020

15. RECENT UPDATES
Changed with 2022 tree cover loss release:
1. Locally variable root-to-shoot ratios to calculate belowground
biomass, used to calculate both emissions and sequestration
2. Tree cover gain extended from 2000-2012 to 2000-2020
3. Higher resolution identificationof tree cover loss due to fires
4. Updated peat extent maps
5. Updated Global Warming Potential (GWP) values
Described in https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-
research/whats-new-carbon-flux-monitoring/

16. UPCOMING UPDATES RELATED
Two updates related to carbon sequestration rates:
1. IPCC Tier 1 Temperate Removal Factors and standard
deviations
2. Spatial Database of Planted Trees 2.0
– 45 additional countries
– 1319 additional planted forest classes

17. OVERVIEW OF GFW CARBON DATA
• GFW Map
• Dashboard
• National Data Spreadsheets
• Open Data Portal
• API

18. GFW MAP
www.globalforestwatch.org

31. https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/developers/

32. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• Why are the emissions an annual timeseries but the removals and net
flux an average over the entire model?
• Is emissions from degradation included in the model?
• How are the carbon sequestration rates determined?
• Can these maps be used for carbon offsets?
• How do the fluxes from these maps compare to national greenhouse
gas inventories?
• I’ve heard that the GLAD lab is going to release some different tree
cover data next year. How is that going to change this flux model?
• How can I get total emissions or removals in my protected area?

33. Thank you! Questions?
David Gibbs
Research Associate
Global Forest Watch
Isabela Barriga
Engagement Specialist​
Global Forest Watch
Moderator
Mel Rose
GIS Research Analyst
Global Forest Watch
REACH OUT TO OUR TEAM AT GFW@WRI.ORG