Drivers of biomass change in Europe: visual interpretation of a random sample

ESA CCI Biomass maps v.5 were used to identify drivers of biomass change between 2010 and 2020. Sample preparation involved the following steps:

1. Generated a random sample across Europe where CCI Biomass reported values.
2. Reduced sample size in Turkey and Ukraine by a factor of 10.
3. Reduced sample size in areas with small changes (±25 t/ha) by a factor of 20.
4. Reduced sample size in areas with "Improbable change" Quality Flag by a factor of 20.

This resulted in 4,702 locations classified in Geo-Wiki.org using high-resolution imagery into the following categories:

1. No changes, remains forest
2. No changes, remains non-forest
3. Not clear if any changes happend
4. Gain: reforestation
5. Gain: afforestation
6. Gain: forest growth
7. Gain: tree crops/agroforestry
8. Gain: urban trees
9. Loss: cropland
10. Loss: tree/shrub crops
11. Loss: roads/trails/buildings
12. Loss: mining and crude oil extraction
13. Loss: forest management
14. Loss: wildfire
15. Loss: insects and diseases
16. Loss: windthrow
17. Loss: other natural disturbances
18. Not sure about drivers