The European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) are reshaping the landscape of corporate sustainability. For businesses with significant land holdings, the ESRS-E environmental requirements present a unique challenge: accurately assessing and reporting on the environmental impact of their operations. This is where effective land management becomes crucial, and ESRS-E provides a framework for companies to integrate sustainable practices into their operations.

Enter Sentinel-2: A powerful tool for ESRS-E compliance

Sentinel-2, a high-resolution Earth observation satellite, offers a wealth of data that can help companies meet these stringent standards. By capturing images of Earth's surface in multiple spectral bands, Sentinel-2 enables detailed analysis of land cover, vegetation health, water bodies, and more.

Zooming in on NDVI

One particularly valuable index derived from Sentinel-2 data is the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI measures the health and vigor of vegetation by calculating the difference between near-infrared and red reflectance.

How NDVI benefits ESRS-E compliance:

1. Precision agriculture: By monitoring crop health and stress levels, NDVI helps optimize irrigation and fertilization practices. This leads to reduced water and chemical usage, improving both environmental and economic sustainability.

2. Deforestation monitoring: NDVI can detect changes in forest cover, allowing companies to identify and mitigate deforestation risks. This is crucial for meeting ESRS-E requirements related to biodiversity and land use.

3. Carbon sequestration assessment: Forests and other vegetation play a vital role in carbon sequestration. NDVI can help quantify carbon uptake by monitoring vegetation growth and biomass.

4. Land degradation assessment: NDVI can identify areas experiencing land degradation, such as soil erosion and desertification. This information helps companies take preventive measures and implement restoration strategies.

ESRS-E and the role of land management

ESRS-E emphasizes the importance of sustainable land management practices. This includes:

• Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems

• Preventing land degradation and soil erosion

• Optimizing land use for various purposes (agriculture, forestry, etc.)

• Mitigating climate change impacts

By using Sentinel-2 data and NDVI, companies can effectively monitor and manage their land in alignment with ESRS-E requirements. This not only ensures compliance but also contributes to long-term environmental sustainability.

Our user-friendly reports and the platform we are currently developing are, among other things, based on Sentinel-2 data.

Schedule a free call to learn more.