Gallery forests of the Angola–DRC borderlands

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 the Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo on 20 June 2025, shows the winding ribbons of gallery forests tracing the tributaries of the Congo River, Kasai River and Kwango River basins. These lush green corridors line the riverbeds, forming a striking mosaic of savannah and forest across the borderlands between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The landscape highlights how gallery forests follow watercourses – here creating ecological ribbons that define and connect these borderlands. 

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