Derek Tesser

Derek Tesser

Remote Sensing Scientist

Forests

Tropical Deforestation Monitoring

Logging activities and agricultural expansion are significant drivers of deforestation in tropical rainforests, contributing to atmospheric carbon emissions. I collaborate with organizations to develop geospatial data products for monitoring near-real time forest degradation and quantification of forest carbon sequestration to support climate change objectives.

Implementations of my work have aided indigenous communities in preserving territorial integrity, advancing climate change initiatives by mitigating the impact of industrial logging activities. Additionally, this research supports conservation groups in reforestation projects with the aim of establishing biodiversity corridors, which can generate high-quality carbon credits.

deforestation
Monitoring illegal logging activities and road development within indigenous territories in the Ecuador rainforest.
oil palm
Measuring oil palm expansion in the Chocó Rainforest, which contributes to regional climate change.

Vegetation Structural Modeling

Comprehensive data on vegetation structure serves as a crucial indicator of ecosystem processes, such as carbon storage. However, the complexity of local-scale vegetation structure in tropical and temperate forest ecosystems leads to uncertainties in biomass and carbon quantification.

I employ precision survey techniques using Lidar and drone photogrammetry to generate highly detailed 3D maps of natural environments. These methodologies enhance the accuracy of assessing carbon storage and biomass potentials, informing the design of nature-based climate solutions aimed at decarbonization strategies.

These vegetation structural models were developed from lidar and drone photogrammetry data collected at Harvard Forest ecological research site and Brazil's Amazon White Sands forest. The data has been used to advance NASA Earth science research objectives.
(Left) Capturing the inaugural drone flight in the Itapoa Reserve, Ecuador. This site was surveyed following an arduous ten-hour hike through a pristine tropical biodiversity hotspot. (Middle) Conducting ecological data collection at our monitoring station within a regenerating forest reserve. (Right) Installing environmental sensors within an oil palm plantation to enhance assessments of tropical forest land conversion and its impacts.