Eeyousat Satellite Earth Observation Monitoring System for Biodiversity Action (SAMBA)

The SAMBA / EeyouSAT project was a Canadian Space Agency–funded initiative under the SmartEarth program. Its purpose was to develop satellite-based tools for monitoring coastal and ecosystem change in the James Bay region of Eeyou Istchee, with a strong emphasis on supporting ecosystem restoration, Indigenous-led conservation, and long-term environmental management.

The main deliverables were geospatial products and monitoring services. These included bathymetry mapping, shoreline mapping, water quality assessments, ecosystem mapping, coastal ice monitoring, and the mapping of submerged coastal habitats, especially eelgrass meadows. The project also aimed to produce high-resolution habitat maps and other outputs that could support restoration initiatives, policy development, biodiversity monitoring, and climate adaptation planning.

The reason for the project was the increasing pressure on northern coastal ecosystems, where habitat degradation and environmental change were being observed. The transcript describes the project as focused on vulnerable coastal areas in James Bay, where eelgrass and other submerged habitats play an important role in stabilizing sediments, supporting biodiversity, and improving water quality. The project was also framed around Global Biodiversity Framework Target 2, which focuses on ecosystem restoration.

The project worked by building on Arctus’ existing expertise in satellite-derived bathymetry, atmospheric correction, shoreline mapping, and water quality monitoring. It used multi-source satellite imagery and research-and-development methods to improve mapping of submerged vegetation habitats and coastal ice. The transcript says the work was operating at Application Readiness Level 5 to 6, meaning it was moving from research toward operational deployment. It was also designed to be broad in both space and time, so the outputs could support repeatable monitoring over large areas.

The results described in the transcript were practical and strategic rather than final scientific conclusions. The project produced data and tools intended to help communities and decision-makers identify degraded habitats, track resilience, guide restoration, and support sustainable coastal management. It also demonstrated Arctus’ ability to deliver climate-focused Earth observation services and positioned the project as a flagship effort that could be expanded to other regions facing similar ecological pressures.

Overall, the SAMBA / Eeyousat project was a collaborative, satellite-based monitoring project that combined environmental science, remote sensing, and Indigenous partnership to better understand and protect vulnerable coastal ecosystems in Canada.

We are proud to announce that this project has been recognized with an international Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) accreditation https://www.spaceclimateobservatory.org/eeyousat