Abstract Satellite data-driven discoveries are fuelling the literature on forest transitions, particularly in quantifying slow, large-scale trends. Mather’s forest transition concept depicts the inflection point marking a change from decreasing to increasing forest area. This theory is being elucidated using satellite images of global forest cover from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and now from the FAO’s recently introduced geospatial monitoring platform SEPAL 2.1. Recently, a series of high profile papers have illuminated the concept of the forest transition using analysis of remote sensing-based forest cover images. Defined as an increase in global forest cover, analysis of satellite images over the past thirty years suggests that a global forest transition has occurred. However, satellite data provide less information about biodiversity and carbon sequestration outcomes in new forests. Incorporating other data sources on the quality of forest transitions offers the potential to develop better reforestation programs, address climate change goals and enhance other ecological and human benefits. This article presents a view on remote sensing, biodiversity, and carbon science that has changed the study of forest transitions, and an outline of anticipated and suggested science and policy directions.

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展望全球森林转型：现状、作用和影响

摘要 卫星数据驱动的发现正在推动有关森林转变的文献，特别是在量化缓慢的大规模趋势方面。Mather 的森林过渡概念描绘了标志着森林面积从减少到增加的变化的拐点。这一理论正在使用美国国家航空航天局 (NASA)、欧洲航天局 (ESA) 以及粮农组织最近推出的地理空间监测平台 SEPAL 2.1 的全球森林覆盖卫星图像进行阐明。最近，一系列备受瞩目的论文使用基于遥感的森林覆盖图像分析阐明了森林过渡的概念。定义为全球森林覆盖的增加，对过去三十年卫星图像的分析表明，全球森林转型已经发生。然而，卫星数据提供的关于新森林中生物多样性和碳固存结果的信息较少。将其他有关森林转型质量的数据来源纳入其中，为制定更好的重新造林计划、解决气候变化目标和提高其他生态和人类利益提供了潜力。本文介绍了改变森林转型研究的遥感、生物多样性和碳科学的观点，并概述了预期和建议的科学和政策方向。将其他有关森林转型质量的数据来源纳入其中，为制定更好的重新造林计划、解决气候变化目标和提高其他生态和人类利益提供了潜力。本文介绍了改变森林转型研究的遥感、生物多样性和碳科学的观点，并概述了预期和建议的科学和政策方向。将其他有关森林转型质量的数据来源纳入其中，为制定更好的重新造林计划、解决气候变化目标和提高其他生态和人类利益提供了潜力。本文介绍了改变森林转型研究的遥感、生物多样性和碳科学的观点，并概述了预期和建议的科学和政策方向。