World Ecosystem Extent Dynamics (WEED)
European Space Agency, VITO Remote sensing, The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), BC3
An alpha version has already been released to selected testers
Summary
Information
The World Ecosystem Extent Dynamics (WEED) project focuses on developing and showcasing a globally applicable toolkit that leverages Earth Observation (EO) data to map and monitor changes in the extent of terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems, including intertidal zones. By advancing EO-based solutions, the project aims to support improved ecosystem management and reporting worldwide.
ARIES, based at BC3, leads the development of the EO-integrated solution at the core of the project. This open-source toolkit, built on the ARIES modelling platform, enables users to track changes in ecosystem extent over time, delivering timely, high-quality data to inform conservation efforts, sustainable resource use, and policy implementation. Through in-country demonstrations and close collaboration with national authorities in Europe and beyond, WEED also works to build technical capacity and contribute to global environmental policy frameworks, including the Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD), SEEA Ecosystem Accounting, the Ramsar Convention, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.
From our central hub at the Basque Center for Climate Change (BC3) we conduct inint activities with more than 20 countries. Those activities notably take the form of a portfolio of 12 projects each year, a selection of which is shown on this map. A number of government agencies, universities and NGOs in partnership for research and training = our preferred modes of international collaboration - complete this view of our worldwide presence on the ground.
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