Earth Observation Training for Conservation and Biodiversity
Unlock the Power of Satellites to Protect Nature – A Free Training Series for Environmental Professionals
Are you working in conservation, environmental policy, or biodiversity monitoring? Curious how satellite data and open-source tools can elevate your work? Join our free, hands-on training series and discover how Earth Observation (EO) is transforming the way we understand and protect nature.
From deforestation alerts to ecosystem health checks and Natura 2000 site monitoring, EO is becoming an essential tool for anyone tackling today’s environmental challenges. This course is designed specifically for environmental professionals, conservationists, and decision-makers who want practical skills and insights—no coding required.
Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for:
- Conservation practitioners & protected area managers
- Environmental NGO staff
- Policy makers & government advisors
- Urban & regional planners
- Ecologists, researchers, and students interested in biodiversity
What You’ll Learn
Throughout this training series, you'll gain practical, beginner-friendly skills in using EO for real-world conservation work:
EO Essentials – What is Earth Observation? Learn how satellites like Sentinel and Landsat support conservation and ecosystem monitoring.
Habitat Monitoring – Track seasonal changes and deforestation using vegetation indices like NDVI and NDMI.
Protected Area Management – Use EO to monitor compliance and detect land use pressures in Natura 2000 and other conservation sites.
Citizen Science Synergy – Combine satellite data with observations from platforms like iNaturalist and GBIF.
Hands-On Tools – Get started with Copernicus Browser and QGIS to analyse EO data—even if you’ve never used them before!
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the series, participants will be able to:
- Understand key Earth Observation concepts and biodiversity applications.
- Detect and analyse land cover and habitat changes.
- Use EO to monitor and report on protected areas.
- Link EO data with citizen science and ground-truthing initiatives.
- Confidently explore and visualise satellite data using QGIS.
Training Schedule
This dynamic training series runs from late September to early December 2025, and includes five core sessions plus one optional bonus session on QGIS. Join live to interact with trainers and peers, or watch the recordings at your convenience. You can find the training materials and the agenda updated below.
Session 1 – Introduction to EO for Conservation & Biodiversity
Date: 26 September 2025
Duration: 120–150 minutes + Q&A
Learn the basics of EO, satellite missions like Sentinel & Landsat, and get a hands-on introduction to the Copernicus Browser.
Materials
- Practical preparation: here (to be done before the session)
- Recording: Please request the recording via this form
- Slides: here
Bonus Session – QGIS Basics for EO & Biodiversity Mapping
Date: 17 October 2025
Duration: 120–150 minutes + Q&A
Learn to visualise EO and species data in QGIS—perfect for beginners with no prior GIS experience.
Materials
- Please install QGIS before the session using the guidance: here
- Download the dataset for practice: here
- Recording: here
- Slides: here
Session 2 – EO for Habitat & Ecosystem Monitoring
Date: 24 October 2025
Duration: 120 minutes + Q&A
Explore seasonal monitoring, change detection, and how vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI, NDMI) help assess ecosystem health.
Materials
Session 3 – Monitoring Protected Areas & Natura 2000 Sites with EO
Date: 7 November 2025
Duration: 90–120 minutes + Q&A
Discover how to use EO to monitor conservation areas, detect illegal land use, and support compliance and reporting.
Materials
Information for the use cases in Session 3
- Dataset for Natura 2000: here
- Coordinate 1: Pálava Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic (part of Natura 2000 site CZ0624090 – Pálava) 48.82942955470886, 16.67189343636448
- Coordinate 2: Božídarské rašeliniště (CZ0424003 – raised bog habitat, Western Bohemia) 50.40483615543616, 12.889292481249793
Session 4 – Open-Source Tools for EO Data Processing & Analysis
Date: 21 November 2025
Duration: 120–150 minutes + Q&A
Get hands-on with open tools like Sentinel Hub, EO Browser, and SNAP—no coding required.
Materials
- Recording: here
- Slides: No slides
Session 5 – Integrating EO with Citizen Science & Field Data
Date: 5 December 2025
Duration: 120 minutes + Q&A
Learn how to integrate EO data with field observations and citizen science platforms like iNaturalist and GBIF.
Materials
