Case Study: Defra improves tree pest monitoring with Rezatec satellite forestry intelligence

Providing Defra With Access To Unique Satellite-Derived Forestry Intelligence

Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) needed help responding to a sweet chestnut blight outbreak in the South West of England and exploring how Earth Observation data could support outbreak management. Rezatec was invited to build an interactive map using its forestry satellite-derived intelligence, including tree species classification and change detection products, to locate Sweet Chestnut trees and identify potentially stressed trees in the affected area.

Rezatec delivered satellite-derived Sweet Chestnut and Oak mapping through its interactive web GIS portal, alongside change-detection analysis to flag anomalous tree stress based on 2015–2016 imagery. The solution helped Defra understand the fine-scale distribution of target species, prioritize ground inspections, monitor for early warning signs of pest spread, and inform tactical responses; Defra also reported that the interface provided useful detail not otherwise available without Earth Observation technology.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Willem Roelofs

Plant Health Evidence Team