Ministry for Primary Industries

Imagery Technology (Remote sensing)

A key research aim of the Maximising Forest Carbon joint-agency programme is to link management actions to changes in forest carbon stocks for New Zealand forests. To accomplish this, we want to understand the impacts of forest management with respect to forest growth dynamics.
The Ministry would like to understand remote sensing technologies that have the potential to successfully undertake a paired site analysis in native kāmahi-podocarp forests in the Westland District. We look to compare an actively managed site where possums have been functionally eradicated (i.e., their probability of occurrence is extremely low), versus an unmanaged site with high possum abundance.

This Request for Information (RFI) invites interested parties to provide information on proposed approaches for obtaining measured or modelled evidence related to the remote capture and detection of damage to the forest canopy and classify dominant species from mature indigenous forest. Any option proposed must be available for use in New Zealand and prepared for deployment.

Of particular interest is solutions that have the capability to establish a connection between damage to forest canopies and the detection of potential impacts on carbon sequestration and/or carbon storage.
We are seeking information on a proven remote-sensing technology, as a result not yet proven technology solutions or concepts yet to be developed to use are considered out of scope.

Department/Business Unit: Te Uru Rakau - Forestry NZ