Jessica Richter is a GIS Research Analyst II with Global Forest Watch (GFW) where she supports forest management and tree cover loss projects. This includes updates to the spatial database of planted trees, as well as several projects related to mapping key drivers of tree cover loss —particularly loss due to wildfires.

Previously, she worked as a planner for a regional planning commission in east-central Vermont where she focused on restoration projects that improved the terrestrial and aquatic health of the region.

Jessica holds a B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL and a M.S. in Geography from East Carolina University. Her master’s research focused on the use of machine learning and object-based image analysis in predicting shoreline classifications from aerial imagery and LiDAR. In 2021, she was selected as a joint graduate research fellow by the North Carolina Space Grant – North Carolina Sea Grant programs.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and cheering on the Washington Spirit.