Environmental Agency criticized for halting climate data

Denmark’s Environmental Agency has decided to take over the monitoring of the country’s forests, a role that has been fulfilled by researchers from the University of Copenhagen for the past 20 years, gathering data from over 2,000 sites. The Agency plans to ensure continuity with the increased digitalization of forest and nature monitoring, including satellite data and pattern recognition. However, Professor Rasmus Fensholt from the University of Copenhagen, a specialist in developing AI and satellite-based forest monitoring methods, considers the technology premature for replacing field measurements completely. The Environmental Agency has not yet provided a replacement plan for the current monitoring system, and researchers are concerned that data collection for 2024 may not begin in time. Meanwhile, the Climate Council has warned about the risks of data series interruptions. Katrine Hahn Kristensen from the Environmental Agency states that the digital shift in monitoring will still incorporate field data to ensure quality.