ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the use of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for forest monitoring at regional to global scales. It focuses on the use of single- and dual-polarization backscatter data acquired at X-, C-, and L-bands, as these are the most widely available to those charged with forest monitoring. The chapter provides essential background information on SAR and an overview of how key change processes of deforestation, degradation, and regeneration/afforestation can be detected using these data. It presents some case studies relating to SAR-based monitoring of tropical rainforests in the Brazilian Amazon and Borneo, tree-grass savannas in Australia, and boreal forests in Siberia. The chapter discusses some advantages of SAR for forest monitoring, either singularly or in combination with other sensors. It also discusses the future of SAR for forest monitoring, particularly as this type of data is now increasingly used in support of local, national, and regional to global forest monitoring frameworks.
