Challenge
Monitoring extensive forested areas poses significant challenges due to limited personnel, funding, and time. For instance, the U.S. federal and state governments oversee over 321 million acres of forests, while Canada manages approximately 815 million acres. Traditional methods, such as ground surveys and aerial photography, are often insufficient for timely detection of threats like wildfires, pest infestations, and illegal logging.
Additionally, the vastness and remoteness of many forested regions make consistent monitoring difficult. Without regular and comprehensive surveillance, early signs of degradation or emerging threats may go unnoticed, leading to more severe environmental and economic consequences.
