AKAR Eligibility: Land Eligibility Screening

Updated 2026-11-02 · 2 min read · By the akar.earth specialist team

AKAR Eligibility screens land for carbon project and EUDR eligibility using satellite land-cover history, change detection and methodology rules.

AKAR Eligibility is a land screening tool that tells you whether a boundary is likely eligible for a carbon project, or compliant with the EUDR cut-off, based on satellite land-cover history and change detection. It turns a polygon into a map of eligible, ineligible and uncertain areas, with the evidence behind each.

What problem it solves

The first question for any land-based project is whether the land qualifies. For ARR, most methodologies require that the land was not forest for a period before the project, often about 10 years; see the 10-year rule guide. For REDD+, the land must be forest, under the applicable definition, and under threat. For EUDR, each plot must show no deforestation after 31 December 2020. Getting this wrong is expensive: an ineligible area found at validation can force a boundary redesign and rework.

Capabilities

• Land-cover history: time series of land cover over the boundary from optical satellite imagery such as Sentinel-2 and Landsat.
• Change detection: where and when forest loss or gain occurred, with dates.
• Rule application: compares history against the forest definition and the look-back or cut-off rule you choose.
• Context layers: overlays such as peat, mangrove and protected or designated forest areas, where reliable public data exists.
• Stratification support: splits the area into strata useful for sampling and modelling.
• Uncertainty flags: marks cloud gaps, mixed pixels and land uses that satellites confuse, such as agroforestry versus secondary forest.
• Outputs: maps, area tables and GIS files for the feasibility memo or EUDR evidence pack.

How it is used

1. Upload or draw a boundary, or a set of plot polygons for EUDR.
2. Choose the purpose: ARR, REDD+, blue carbon, or EUDR cut-off check.
3. Review the eligibility map and area summary.
4. Send flagged areas for specialist review or a field check.
5. Export results to the AKAR Carbon Simulator or the EUDR data package.

Who it is for

• Developers screening many sites before investing in fieldwork.
• Landowners and social forestry groups checking their land’s potential.
• Buyers and investors running independent due diligence.
• Exporters running satellite verification on supplier plots.

Limitations

Satellite classification is not perfect. Tree crops, agroforestry and young secondary forest can look similar, and persistent cloud cover affects parts of Indonesia for much of the year. Forest definitions also vary: the national definition, a methodology’s definition and the EUDR’s definition (based on the FAO definition) are not identical. AKAR Eligibility makes these uncertainties visible rather than hiding them, and final decisions should combine the screen with ground evidence. It is a screening tool, not a certification.

Related service and tools

AKAR Eligibility is the core of our feasibility and eligibility service. For a quick first impression without a boundary, try the free project eligibility quiz. See the AKAR suite for the other tools, and the forest carbon hub for background.

Access

Access is through a demo request. Message us with a boundary file or location and your purpose, and we will run a screen on your land and walk you through the result.