Andean foothills

To mark the first anniversary of the European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite, we present a selection of striking images captured over the past 12 months, revealing Earth’s forests, and much more, in new detail. In just one year, this pioneering mission has begun transforming our understanding of forest dynamics and advancing how scientists monitor the critical role forests play in regulating the global carbon cycle. 

This image, captured over Bolivia on 19 June 2025, captures the transition in northeastern Bolivia where meandering rivers and flooded wetlands meet the sharply folded ridges of the Andean foothills, with distinct geometric patterns revealing areas of human-driven deforestation within the rainforest.

Read full story: Stunning images from Biomass mark its one year in orbit