Google DeepMind and WRI release AI-powered global forest map ForTy
Google DeepMind and the World Resources Institute have released ForTy, a global map using satellite data and AI to classify forests and other land into six categories, including primary forests, plantations and tree crops. The map could support deforestation tracking under EU rules. However, reported detection rates of roughly half for planted forests and tree-crop areas, and 60% for plantations, highlight significant coverage gaps.
Why it matters: ForTy offers a concrete application of AI to forest monitoring, with detection limitations that matter for interpreting its potential regulatory use.