By generating quantitative models of the Earth’s ecology, Crowtherlab's research has revealed that it is possible to offset climate change by restoring plants and soils across the globe. Their research aims to generate the ecological mapping tools to guide global restoration efforts. These maps can show where to focus restoration efforts and have the greatest impacts on carbon capture or biodiversity. This global ecological research is necessary to understand and address climate change. Historically, we've always used satellites to characterize global ecosystems from the ‘top-down’. But this doesn’t allow us to see the trees and microorganisms that exist below the canopy surface. Now, at the start of big data revolution, Crowtherlab build models from bottom up, using real on the ground data from scientists across the globe. By combining this information with satellite imagery and environmental data they generate quantitative global models describing all living parts of ecosystems.