Remote sensing approaches to monitor tropical forest restoration: Current methods and future possibilities

Tropical forests are increasingly threatened by deforestation and degradation, impacting carbon storage, climate regulations and biodiversity. Restoring these ecosystems is crucial for environmental sustainability, yet monitoring these efforts poses significant challenges. Secondary forests are in a constant state of flux, with growth depending on multiple factors. Remote sensing technologies offer cost-effective, scalable and transferable solutions, advancing forest restoration monitoring towards more accurate, efficient and real-time data analysis and interpretation. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current state and advancements in remote sensing technologies applied to monitoring tropical forest restoration. Synthesis and applications: This review brings together the state of the art of remote sensing technologies, such as very-high-resolution RGB imagery, multi- and hyperspectral imaging, lidar, radar and thermal-infrared technologies and their applicability in monitoring forest restoration. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the potential of remote sensing technologies, coupled with advanced computational techniques, to enhance global efforts towards effective and sustainable forest restoration monitoring.