Circular mountain plateau, Malaysia

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 Malaysia on 22 June 2025, shows the Maliau Basin conservation area in Malaysia. It is a unique, circular mountain plateau drained by the winding Maliau River and blanketed in exceptionally dense, pristine tropical rainforest.

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