About RAMONA
RAMONA was funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) to demonstrate how high-resolution Earth Observation data from the Sentinels can be used to measure rangeland indicators systematically and accurately.
A suite of core and experimental products have been developed and implemented in a prototype Earth Observation-based rangeland monitoring system at continental scale for Africa. These include products describing rangeland extent and typology, estimating herbaceous biomass and quantifying key vegetation phenology parameters of rangelands across the African continent.
- Rangeland Extent: Mapping rangelands at 10m resolution across Africa
- Rangeland Type: Classifying different rangeland ecosystems
- Biomass: Tracking herbaceous biomass availability
- Analysis: Advanced geospatial analytics for stakeholders
Product Suite
The RAMONA core and experimental product portfolio have been developed and implemented for 2000+ Sentinel-2 tiles at 10m resolution. The project leverages the unprecedented capabilities of ESA's Copernicus Sentinel missions to provide multi-sensor and multi-resolution observation capacity required for state-of-the-art rangeland monitoring.
Core products
- Rangeland Extent (10m, yearly): Mapping and tracking the geographical extent of rangelands across Africa at high resolution.
- Rangeland Type (10m, yearly): Classification of rangeland types based on ecological characteristics and vegetation patterns.
- Herbaceous Biomass (10 m, monthly): Monitoring and quantification of herbaceous vegetation biomass across African rangelands.
Experimental products
- Phenology Parameters (10 m, yearly): Key vegetation timing indicators including total productivity, season length, start/end of season, and amplitude.
- Biomass Anomalies (300 m, quarterly): Detection of unusual patterns in biomass distribution, indicating potential ecological changes.
Continental Processing
To generate analysis-ready information at continental scale, multi-mission Earth Observation data, including Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3, are combined through data selection, sensor fusion and time-series processing.
The workflow integrates optical, SAR and vegetation-related datasets to derive a suite of land-monitoring products, including rangeland extent and type, herbaceous biomass, phenology parameters, woody fraction and biomass anomalies. Processing is performed at different spatial and temporal resolutions, with several products generated at 10 m resolution, demonstrating the transition from satellite observations to harmonised, continental-scale products supporting systematic monitoring of rangeland condition and dynamics.
African Rangelands
African rangelands are diverse ecosystems supporting both wildlife and livestock, providing essential resources for local communities and playing a key role in continental carbon cycles and biodiversity conservation.
Challenges:
- Climate change impacts and increasing drought frequency
- Land degradation and desertification
- Balancing conservation with pastoral livelihoods
- Limited data for monitoring and management
- Competing land uses and fragmentation
RAMONA Solutions:
- High-resolution satellite monitoring at continental scale
- Tracking biomass, productivity, and seasonality
- Early warning systems for drought and degradation
- Supporting sustainable pastoral management
Evidence-based policy recommendations
Products Description
Core Products
Rangeland Annual Extent
Understanding where rangelands are located is the first step in monitoring their condition, use, and value. Yet, defining and mapping rangelands is not straightforward. There is no universally accepted definition, and existing ones vary by region and institution.
To overcome this challenge, RAMONA adopts a broad, inclusive, and operational definition:
Rangelands are all vegetated land that is not classified as cropland or closed-canopy forest.
This approach allows the team to apply a consistent method across Africa, using EO data from Sentinel-1, -2, and -3 to map rangelands at 10-meter resolution. By defining rangelands through what they are not — cropland and forest — land cover classes that are more clearly defined and detectable from space.
RAMONA considers the full seasonal cycle, recognizing that some areas — particularly in arid and semi-arid regions — may appear unvegetated during parts of the year, yet are actively used for grazing during seasonal migrations or periods of vegetative growth.
This seasonally-aware mapping ensures that critical areas used in transhumance or migratory pastoral systems are included, even if green vegetation is only present for part of the year.
RAMONA’s rangeland maps are produced at 10 m resolution — a significant improvement over earlier, coarser maps. This fine scale captures landscape variability and supports local decision-making.
Rangeland Type
Africa’s rangelands are incredibly diverse—not just ecologically, but also in how they are used and understood by local communities. RAMONA introduces a new rangeland type classification system built to reflect this complexity with transparency, flexibility, and ecological relevance.
Traditional vegetation maps often rely on fixed, expert-defined classes — like "savanna" or "dry forest" — based on historical concepts or climate inputs. But in many African rangelands, this can lead to major misclassifications. Such systems also struggle to capture rapid ecological change, as they rely on long-term climate averages that don't respond to seasonal or annual shifts.
RAMONA’s rangeland type classification avoids these pitfalls by focusing only on what we can observe in the vegetation—not what we assume based on climate or pre-existing labels.
An unsupervised clustering method has been used — meaning the types emerge from the data itself — and classify landscapes based on three key characteristics:
Annual Primary Productivity – how much vegetation grows
Seasonality – when and how that growth occurs
Vegetation Structure – particularly canopy height
This approach captures what truly matters for ecosystem function, livestock carrying capacity, and biodiversity support — while remaining reproducible and adaptable.
RAMONA’s rangeland type product supports a wide range of users and use-cases:
Local adaptation and filtering of rangeland types
Country-level reporting on SDG 15 and ecosystem health
Early detection of land degradation or land-use change, like bush encroachment
Rangeland Herbaceous Biomass
Vegetation productivity — how much biomass plants accumulate — offers a key signal of rangeland health. In RAMONA, this has been estimated using EO data and a widely-used approach called light use efficiency (LUE).
Plants use sunlight to grow. The LUE model links absorbed light (PAR) with biomass growth, adjusted for stress factors like drought or heat. This allows to estimate:
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) – total carbon fixed by photosynthesis
Net Primary Productivity (NPP) – GPP minus plant respiration
Herbaceous Rangeland Biomass (HRB) – the aboveground part usable for grazing
To calculate HRB:
Convert GPP to NPP using carbon use efficiency (CUE) from dynamic vegetation models
Estimate the aboveground fraction of NPP
Adjust for carbon content and biomass turnover
This gives a realistic, EO-based estimate of how much grazing biomass is produced across Africa’s rangelands.
These productivity estimates are essential for:
Monitoring forage availability
Assessing drought impacts
Guiding sustainable grazing
RAMONA uses state-of-the-art modeling and EO data to deliver actionable insights on how well the land is producing — and what that means for people and livestock.
Experimental Products
Rangeland Phenology Parameters
Plant growth follows seasonal rhythms — bursting into life with the rains, retreating in dry spells. These biological cycles are known as phenology, and understanding them is crucial for everything from climate science to food security.
In RAMONA, EO data have been processed to provide high-resolution phenological insights across Africa’s rangelands, helping users monitor productivity, change, and resilience like never before.
Phenology tracks recurring plant life cycle events — like green-up, flowering, and senescence — as they respond to weather and climate. It’s a key indicator for:
Ecosystem productivity and carbon uptake
Biodiversity patterns
Agricultural planning and grazing potential
Most remote-sensing approaches focus on Land Surface Phenology (LSP) — monitoring changes in vegetation using time series of satellite-derived indices. But LSP accuracy can vary depending on spatial resolution and vegetation composition.
While existing phenology datasets often have coarse spatial resolution, RAMONA delivers fine-scale phenology maps derived from fused Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 data — designed specifically for Africa’s diverse rangelands.
Key advantages:
Higher resolution for local relevance
Greater consistency with other RAMONA products
Reliable cloud mitigation through multi-sensor fusion
TIMESAT software has been applied to extract 13 phenology and productivity metrics for up to two growing seasons per year. These include:
Start, peak, and end of season
Duration of growth
Productivity dynamics
Cubic spline smoothing has been used to model continuous, noise-free seasonal trajectories — even in cloudy regions or complex landscapes. This method:
Removes short-term noise from clouds or geometric distortions
Captures subtle seasonal shifts and multi-year trends
Preserves key turning points in vegetation growth
Combined with our multi-sensor approach, this enables high-fidelity phenology monitoring at continental scale — with resolution and relevance for local land managers and global researchers alike.
Rangeland Biomass Anomalies
Whether due to drought, degradation, or recovery, anomalies show where and when things deviate from normal. RAMONA uses proven statistical methods to detect these changes in rangeland productivity and vegetation dynamics, offering a fast and intuitive tool for risk assessment and early warning.
RAMONA calculates anomalies using the z-score, a trusted and widely-used method in environmental monitoring.
Z = (x - μ) / σ
Where:
x = the observed value for a season/year
μ = the long-term mean (baseline)
σ = the standard deviation (how variable the data usually is))
This tells us how far from “normal” a current value is, in statistical terms.
±1.64σ = moderate anomaly (90% confidence)
±1.96σ = strong anomaly (95% confidence)
±2.58σ = extreme anomaly (99% confidence)
By applying this pixel-by-pixel across Africa, we build anomaly maps that are:
Fast to compute
Scalable to any region or resolution
Easy to interpret and compare over time
Anomalies can be computed for:
Whole seasons or years (robust, but delayed)
Shorter time steps (faster, for near real-time monitoring)
For example, RAMONA can align with systems like FEWS NET to provide timely alerts during the growing season—not just after it ends.
Longer-term anomaly time series also reveal emerging patterns — such as areas with frequent vegetation shortfalls — helping identify vulnerable or degrading rangelands.
RAMONA’s anomaly product supports users in:
Early warning for food security and drought
Identifying ecological instability
Tracking recovery from climate shocks or land management efforts
Explore the products
Monitoring rangeland extent, typology, productivity and phenology at 10 m resolution using Copernicus Sentinel satellites. Data is available for the following Rangeland information products:
Extent | Type | Herbaceous Biomass | Herbaceous Biomass Anomalies | Phenology Parameters
Rangeland Extent (Core Product)
Accurately and dynamically mapping rangeland extent allows the monitoring of rangeland expansions and contractions due to human driven changes in e.g. land use, climate-driven e.g. erratic rainfall patterns, atmospheric CO2 and grazing pressure from livestock and wild herbivores.
https://browser.apex.esa.int/external/eoresults.esa.int/stac/collections/ramona_re?.language=en
Rangeland Type (Core Product)
Accurately and dynamically mapping rangeland extent allow the monitoring of rangeland expansions and contractions due to human driven changes in e.g. land use, climate-driven e.g. erratic rainfall patterns, atmospheric CO2 and grazing pressure from livestock and wild herbivores.
https://browser.apex.esa.int/external/eoresults.esa.int/stac/collections/ramona_rt?.language=en
Rangeland Herbaceous Biomass (Core Product)
Herbaceous biomass is the key predictor of herbivore biomass, including livestock production capacity and the biomass of wild herbivores, knowing herbaceous biomass availability therefore forms the backbone of making informed and adaptive livelihood and conservation decision.
https://browser.apex.esa.int/external/eoresults.esa.int/stac/collections/ramona_hrb?.language=en
https://browser.apex.esa.int/external/eoresults.esa.int/stac/collections/ramona_hrb?.language=en
Rangeland Biomass Anomalies (Experimental Product)
Identification of herbaceous biomass production anomalies (i.e. deficit or surplus) relative to a multi-year baseline will further inform pastoralists and conservation managers on available resources.
https://browser.apex.esa.int/external/eoresults.esa.int/stac/collections/RAMONA_HRB_Anomalies
Rangeland Phenology Parameters (Experimental Product)
Five key phenology parameters in 10 m resolution available for continental African rangelands. Total productivity, Season length, Amplitude, Start- and End of Season dates
https://browser.apex.esa.int/external/eoresults.esa.int/stac/collections/ramona_rpp?.language=en
TEAM
Project Partners
Lead by Aarhus University – Department of Ecoinformatics & Biodiversity and the associated BIOCHANGE centre of excellence (Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World) with a proven track record of research in African rangeland ecology and management, the Team’s composition has been carefully assembled to reach the scientific and technical goals of the project, including as sub-contractors and additional renowned scientific organization - Lund University, represented by the Earth Observation research group of the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science and two leading European EO industrial partners DHI and GeoVille with strong links and heritage in Earth Observation project execution and large-scale production and distribution of Earth Observation derived information products.
Scientific Steering Committee
The Scientific Steering Committee plays a vital role in guiding the project toward its goal of producing innovative and impactful information products derived from Earth observation data. Composed of leading organizations in food security, agriculture, and sustainable development, the committee provides strategic direction, ensures scientific rigor, and fosters collaboration to address global challenges such as food insecurity, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. Their collective expertise ensures the project delivers actionable insights to support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The FAO is a specialized United Nations agency that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. It works with member countries to develop policies, practices, and tools for better management of food systems, natural resources, and rural development. The FAO supports innovation and provides technical expertise to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.
World Food Programme (WFP)
The WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working to improve nutrition and food security in vulnerable communities. Operating in over 100 countries, it tackles hunger through innovative approaches, including resilience-building programs, supply chain optimization, and partnerships with governments and organizations to address the root causes of food insecurity. The WFP uses advanced analytical tools to assess food crises, enabling effective and evidence-based responses.
Food Security Unit of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
The Food Security Unit conducts advanced scientific research to support global efforts in understanding and addressing food insecurity. As part of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, it provides data-driven insights and tools to monitor agricultural production, assess climate impacts, and predict food crises. Its research supports evidence-based policymaking and contributes to sustainable solutions for global food security and agricultural resilience.
GEOGLAM RAPP
GEOGLAM’s Rangeland and Pasture Productivity (RAPP) initiative focuses on improving the monitoring and management of rangelands and pastures globally. It provides actionable information on vegetation health, productivity, and land use to support sustainable livestock production, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. RAPP connects scientific research with decision-making by leveraging satellite and in-situ data to address the challenges facing rangeland ecosystems.
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
ILRI conducts research to improve the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of livestock systems in developing countries. Its work addresses critical global challenges such as food and nutritional security, poverty reduction, and climate adaptation. By integrating science, technology, and policy, ILRI helps to enhance livelihoods and manage natural resources in ways that benefit both people and the environment.
GMES and Africa
GMES and Africa is a flagship initiative of the African Union and the European Commission, focused on empowering Africa with Earth observation technologies for sustainable development. The program provides tools and services for monitoring natural resources, agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction. By promoting capacity-building and collaboration, GMES and Africa supports evidence-based decision-making to address the continent’s pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
Supporting partnerships
The RAMONA project is designed with a strong emphasis on collaboration and relevance, drawing on the expertise and interest of a broad network of institutions working in rangeland monitoring and management across Africa. These partners represent a mix of international organizations, regional agencies, national research institutions, and conservation networks.
To ensure that the Continental Rangeland Product Suite is both scientifically sound and practically useful, we anticipate engaging with a variety of stakeholders through exploratory use cases. These will serve to demonstrate potential applications of the products in different rangeland contexts and to gather feedback on functionality, relevance, and usability.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
The UNCCD is a global initiative dedicated to combating desertification, land degradation, and the impacts of drought. It works with member states to promote sustainable land management, restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions. The UNCCD also addresses the link between land degradation and challenges like food security, migration, and climate change.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
IFAD is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on empowering rural communities to overcome poverty and hunger. By investing in smallholder farmers and agricultural development, IFAD fosters sustainable livelihoods, strengthens rural economies, and builds resilience against climate change. Its work supports inclusive and sustainable food systems while addressing challenges such as land degradation and water scarcity.
L'Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS)
The OSS is a regional organization working across Africa’s arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions to promote sustainable natural resource management. It provides data, research, and capacity-building to address the impacts of desertification, water scarcity, and climate change. By fostering regional cooperation, OSS supports resilience-building efforts for communities and ecosystems in vulnerable regions.
IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC)
ICPAC is a specialized institution of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) serving East Africa. The center provides advanced climate monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems to support climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and informed decision-making. Its work helps safeguard lives and livelihoods in one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world.
AGRHYMET Regional Center
The AGRHYMET Regional Center is an institute specializing in agro-meteorology, hydrology, and environmental monitoring for West Africa. It supports sustainable development through research and capacity-building, providing essential data and tools to address food security, water management, and climate resilience in the Sahel region. Its services are vital for improving agricultural productivity and resource management.
Centre du Suivi Ecologique (CSE)
Based in Senegal, the Centre du Suivi Ecologique (CSE) focuses on environmental monitoring, natural resource management, and sustainable development. Through research, innovation, and policy support, CSE addresses challenges such as land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. It works closely with local and regional stakeholders to foster sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of communities.
Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC)
The Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) is Sudan’s leading agricultural research institution, advancing knowledge and innovation to improve food security and sustainable land management. ARC conducts research on crop production, soil conservation, and climate adaptation, addressing the challenges faced by farmers in diverse agro-ecological zones. Its work contributes to resilient and productive agricultural systems across the region.
ZIEM
ZIEM is a non-profit organization based in Zambia that focuses on sustainable environmental management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. It promotes research, capacity-building, and community engagement to address issues such as deforestation, water management, and land degradation. ZIEM works to ensure that natural resources are managed sustainably to benefit both present and future generations.
South African National Parks (SANParks)
SANParks is the official body responsible for managing South Africa’s national parks, protecting the country’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. Through conservation, environmental education, and sustainable tourism initiatives, SANParks ensures the preservation of ecosystems while fostering economic opportunities for local communities. Its work plays a vital role in safeguarding South Africa’s natural heritage for future generations.
South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON/EFTEON)
SAEON, along with its Expanded Freshwater and Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (EFTEON), provides long-term environmental monitoring and research in South Africa. By collecting and analyzing data on ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change, SAEON supports sustainable resource management and informed decision-making. Its work contributes to understanding the impacts of global change on South African ecosystems.
Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC) conducts cutting-edge research to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and innovation. The ARC addresses challenges such as food security, climate resilience, and natural resource management. By supporting farmers and agricultural stakeholders, the ARC contributes to the development of sustainable food systems and rural economic growth.
Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA)
The Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA) is a community-led initiative focused on the conservation of the Maasai Mara ecosystem in Kenya. By promoting sustainable wildlife management and supporting the livelihoods of local communities, MMWCA ensures that conservation and development go hand in hand. Its work safeguards one of the world’s most iconic wildlife regions while empowering the people who live there.
Kenya Wildlife Trust (KWT)
The Kenya Wildlife Trust (KWT) is dedicated to conserving Kenya’s wildlife and ecosystems through research, education, and community partnerships. KWT works to protect endangered species, promote biodiversity, and address challenges such as habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. By engaging local communities in conservation efforts, KWT ensures the long-term sustainability of Kenya’s natural heritage.
African Parks
African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that manages and protects national parks and wildlife areas across Africa in partnership with governments and local communities. With a focus on sustainable conservation, African Parks combines effective park management, biodiversity restoration, and community development to ensure long-term protection of Africa's natural heritage. By fostering local ownership and creating economic opportunities, the organization safeguards ecosystems while improving the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
