I lead a group working on developing new methods for using satellite data to map forest ecosystems. In particular I am interested in using optical, radar and lidar data to map woody cover and aboveground biomass in Africa's forest and savanna landscapes. We also work on methods for detecting deforestation, forest degradation and woody encroachment, and have collected extensive field data to calibrate and validate satellite products. I work closely with the governments of Cameroon and Gabon to assist them in developing their Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) programs, a UN initiative to fund forest protection, as well as with many NGO's and companies working on these issues. My research is funded by the UK's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Innovate UK.

In this video Edward describes his research on how the forests and woodlands of the tropics are disappearing fast. He develops methods to map the changing carbon storage of forests using satellite data, critical to efforts to halt deforestation.