The Forest Observation System, building a global reference dataset for remote sensing of forest biomass
Authors: Schepaschenko Dmitry , Chave Jérôme , Phillips Oliver L. , Lewis Simon L. , Davies Stuart J. , Réjou-Méchain Maxime , Sist Plinio , Scipal Klaus , Perger Christoph , Herault Bruno , Labrière Nicolas , Hofhansl Florian , Affum-Baffoe Kofi , Aleinikov Alexei , Alonso Alfonso , Amani Christian , Araujo-Murakami Alejandro , Armston John , Arroyo Luzmila , Ascarrunz Nataly , Azevedo Celso , Baker Timothy , Bałazy Radomir , Bedeau Caroline , Berry Nicholas , Bilous Andrii M. , Bilous Svitlana Yu. , Bissiengou Pulchérie , Blanc Lilian , Bobkova Kapitolina S. , Braslavskaya Tatyana , Brienen Roel , Burslem David F. R. P. , Condit Richard , Cuni-Sanchez Aida , Danilina Dilshad , del Castillo Torres Dennis , Derroire Géraldine , Descroix Laurent , Sotta Eleneide Doff , d’Oliveira Marcus V. N. , Dresel Christopher , Erwin Terry , Evdokimenko Mikhail D. , Falck Jan , Feldpausch Ted R. , Foli Ernest G. , Foster Robin , Fritz Steffen , Garcia-Abril Antonio Damian , Gornov Aleksey , Gornova Maria , Gothard-Bassébé Ernest , Gourlet-Fleury Sylvie , Guedes Marcelino , Hamer Keith C. , Susanty Farida Herry , Higuchi Niro , Coronado Eurídice N. Honorio , Hubau Wannes , Hubbell Stephen , Ilstedt Ulrik , Ivanov Viktor V. , Kanashiro Milton , Karlsson Anders , Karminov Viktor N. , Killeen Timothy , Koffi Jean-Claude Konan , Konovalova Maria , Kraxner Florian , Krejza Jan , Krisnawati Haruni , Krivobokov Leonid V. , Kuznetsov Mikhail A. , Lakyda Ivan , Lakyda Petro I. , Licona Juan Carlos , Lucas Richard M. , Lukina Natalia , Lussetti Daniel , Malhi Yadvinder , Manzanera José Antonio , Marimon Beatriz , Junior Ben Hur Marimon , Martinez Rodolfo Vasquez , Martynenko Olga V. , Matsala Maksym , Matyashuk Raisa K. , Mazzei Lucas , Memiaghe Hervé , Mendoza Casimiro , Mendoza Abel Monteagudo , Moroziuk Olga V. , Mukhortova Liudmila , Musa Samsudin , Nazimova Dina I. , Okuda Toshinori , Oliveira Luis Claudio , Ontikov Petr V. , Osipov Andrey F. , Pietsch Stephan , Playfair Maureen , Poulsen John , Radchenko Vladimir G. , Rodney Kenneth , Rozak Andes H. , Ruschel Ademir , Rutishauser Ervan , See Linda , Shchepashchenko Maria , Shevchenko Nikolay , Shvidenko Anatoly , Silveira Marcos , Singh James , Sonké Bonaventure , Souza Cintia , Stereńczak Krzysztof , Stonozhenko Leonid , Sullivan Martin J P , Szatniewska Justyna , Taedoumg Hermann , ter Steege Hans , Tikhonova Elena , Toledo Marisol , Trefilova Olga V. , Valbuena Ruben , Gamarra Luis Valenzuela , Vasiliev Sergey , Vedrova Estella F. , Verhovets Sergey V. , Vidal Edson , Vladimirova Nadezhda A. , Vleminckx Jason , Vos Vincent A. , Vozmitel Foma K. , Wanek Wolfgang , West Thales A. P. , Woell Hannsjorg , Woods John T. , Wortel Verginia , Yamada Toshihiro , Nur Hajar Zamah Shari , Zo-Bi Irié Casimir 
Published: October 2019

Forest biomass is an essential indicator for monitoring the Earth’s ecosystems and climate. It is a critical input to greenhouse gas accounting, estimation of carbon losses and forest degradation, assessment of renewable energy potential, and for developing climate change mitigation policies such as REDD+, among others. Wall-to-wall mapping of aboveground biomass (AGB) is now possible with satellite remote sensing (RS). However, RS methods require extant, up-to-date, reliable, representative and comparable in situ data for calibration and validation. Here, we present the Forest Observation System (FOS) initiative, an international cooperation to establish and maintain a global in situ forest biomass database. AGB and canopy height estimates with their associated uncertainties are derived at a 0.25 ha scale from field measurements made in permanent research plots across the world’s forests. All plot estimates are geolocated and have a size that allows for direct comparison with many RS measurements. The FOS offers the potential to improve the accuracy of RS-based biomass products while developing new synergies between the RS and ground-based ecosystem research communities.