TanDEM-X data for aboveground biomass retrieval in a tropical peat swamp forest

The relationship of interferometric coherence of the bistatic TanDEM-X data showed a moderate to high correlation with the biomass (R2 = 0.5) and RMSE of 53 t/ha corresponding to a biomass range from 183 to 495 t/ha. Thus, it could be used to indicate forest degradation areas, which are characterized by larger opening of the canopy cover and thus lower biomass. The results indicate that interferometric coherence is useful for quantification of aboveground biomass in tropical peat swamp forest. TanDEM-X coherence can at minimum serve as a stratification to assess spatial distribution of qualitative biomass classes in the context of REDD + monitoring, reporting, and verification schemes and for the identification of forest degradation areas.