Artificial intelligence for sustainability: opportunities and risks of utilizing Earth observation technologies to protect forests

Extreme heat, massive floods, and ever-longer droughts caused by climate change are intensifying in magnitude and intensity across the globe. Forests are threatened by increases in the average global temperature and human-driven economic activity. Artificial intelligence and Earth observation technologies present opportunities to improve environmental sustainability, promoting Sustainable Development Goals through more efficient forest management and stewardship. These technologies can potentially improve the mapping, understanding, and monitoring of forests’ ecosystem services, directly aiding humanity’s efforts to combat climate change. However, increased use of these technologies could also create new risks, making these efforts counterproductive. This perspective article identifies opportunities and risks of using artificial intelligence and Earth observation technologies to protect forests globally. It discusses how risks can be mitigated and what governance mechanisms should be used to design sustainable forest-focused artificial intelligence.