National and international experts discuss the Biomass Mission at PCT Guamá
Biomass satellite measures biomass and carbon stocks of forests
The first event in Brazil dedicated to the Biomass Mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) began this Tuesday (30) and will run until Thursday (2) at the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) Amazon, located in the Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT). Entitled "Brazil and European Space Agency Cooperation in Earth Observation Data and Applications of the Biomass Mission," the meeting brings together national and international experts to discuss applications and opportunities of the satellite.
Launched in April 2025, the Biomass Mission aims to accurately map the planet's forest biomass and quantify carbon stocks in forests. The satellite operates with the first P-band radar in orbit, capable of penetrating cloud cover and tree canopies, providing unprecedented information about the three-dimensional structure of forests.
During the opening, Anabela Fonseca, representative of the ESA's International Relations Department, highlighted the historic partnership between the agency and Brazil, which began in 1977, shortly after the creation of ESA in 1975. The cooperation started with the installation of a tracking station for launchers in French Guiana, a French territory, and extended to Brazilian areas for Earth observation and educational projects.
According to Fonseca, the choice of Belém as the workshop's location was strategic: instead of holding it in Brasília or São José dos Campos, as in previous editions, ESA decided to bring the meeting to the Amazon, strengthening cooperation with local institutions. "The workshop integrates European and Brazilian data, with technical sessions and panels of experts, to strengthen monitoring of the Amazon and improve responses to regional demands," she explained.
For the coordinator of Inpe Amazon, Alessandra Gomes, the initiative reinforces the region's prominence in international discussions on climate and sustainability. "The event highlights the national discussion about the Biomass satellite and its possibilities. In the pre-COP30 context, the meeting reinforces the importance of the Amazon in global debates by addressing biomass and carbon stocks, essential elements for understanding climate change," she noted.
The event is the result of cooperation between ESA, Inpe, and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), with support from Selper Brazil, PCT Guamá, and the Guamá Foundation.
Reference in innovation
The Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT) is an initiative of the government of Pará, through the State Secretariat for Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education (Sectet), in partnership with the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (Ufra), and managed by the Guamá Foundation.
It is the first technological park in the Northern region of Brazil, aimed at stimulating applied research and innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship to improve the quality of life of the population.
Located on the banks of the Guamá River, which gives its name to the complex, the PCT is situated between the campuses of the two universities and has an ecosystem rich in biodiversity, extending over 72 hectares, designated for buildings and the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Metropolitan Region of Belém.
The complex has more than 90 companies among residents and associates, 17 laboratories with over 400 researchers, 44 patents, and a technical school.
The PCT Guamá is part of the National Association of Promoters of Innovative Enterprises (Anprotec) and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (Iasp), and is part of the largest innovation ecosystem in the world.
