New Satellite Mapping Reveals Vast Undetected Trees in Tropics, Highlighting Overlooked Losses

A recent study published in Nature Communications unveils that 17.31% of tropical tree cover—equivalent to 395.9 million hectares (Mha)—has been consistently overlooked by global forest monitoring systems. Using high-resolution satellite imagery (<5m) and an advanced automated algorithm, an international research team mapped previously undetected tree cover (PUTC) across pan-tropical regions from 2015–2022. Their findings highlight significant net losses and critical blind spots in current forest conservation efforts.

International Summer School on 3D Radiative Transfer modelling - 4rd LESS model tutorial & 7th DART model international tutorial

To further promote the development of 3D radiative transfer theory and applications,facilitate the use of 3D radiative transfer models by researchers,and foster inter-disciplinary integration,the State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth will host the International Summer School on 3D Radiative Transfer modelling,focused on the LESS and DART models,July 22-25,2025. There is no registration fee. Participants are responsible for their transportation,meals,and accommodation expenses. Young researchers and graduate students are welcome to register and participate.

AIR-Led International Program on Pest and Disease Selected as UNESCO-Endorsed Program for Sustainable Development

An international program titled "Global Vegetation Pest and Disease Habitat Monitoring and Risk Forecasting," led by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been endorsed by UNESCO as one of 25 inaugural global initiatives under the United Nations' International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (IDSSD 2024–2033). The announcement was made during the UN's Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on May 7, 2024, in New York, U.S.

Chinese Scientist Receives GEO Emerging Leader Award for Advances in Crop Pest and Disease Monitoring and Forecasting

Dr. LIU Linyi, an assistant researcher at the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been awarded the Emerging Leader Award by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) during the GEO Global Forum held in Rome, Italy, on 7 May 2025.

Satellite-Based CropWatch Monitoring Training Enhances Agricultural Resilience in Southern Africa

Over 40 policymakers,researchers,academics,and students from Botswana,Mauritius,Mozambique,South Africa,Zimbabwe,and Zambia convened in Lusaka,Zambia on April 8–11,2025 for the workshop"Advancing Satellite-based Monitoring to Enhance Agricultural Resilience for the Global South."Co-organized by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Zambia (UNZA),with support from the CAS-ANSO Conference Program 2025,the event focused on leveraging satellite remote sensing technologies to combat food insecurity and promote sustainable agricultural growth in Southern Africa,a region facing critical food security challenges but with huge potential to become a global breadbasket.

AIR Ink MOU with Indonesia’s Udayana University