Land degradation and desertification has been ranked as a major environmental social issue for the coming decades. Thus, observation early detection of is primary objective number scientific policy organisations, with remote sensing methods being candidate choice development monitoring systems. This paper reviews statistical ecological frameworks assessing land using vegetation index data. The multi-temporal analysis assessment technique reviewed, focus on how current practice shaped by...

A desertification monitoring system is developed that uses four indicators derived using continental-scale remotely sensed data: vegetation cover, rain use efficiency (RUE), surface run-off and soil erosion. These were calculated on a dekadal time step for 1996. Vegetation cover was estimated the Normalized Difference Index (NDVI). The estimation of RUE also employed NDVI and, in addition, rainfall from Meteosat cold cloud duration data. Surface modelled Soil Conservation Service (SCS) model...

Abstract In Europe, the most susceptible areas to land degradation and desertification (LDD) are found in Mediterranean region. The present study focuses on island of Lesvos (Greece) maps environmental sensitivity LDD between years 1990 2000. Sensitivity is estimated with a modification MEDALUS Environmentally Sensitive Area Index (ESAI) approach, employing 21 quantitative parameters divided five main quality indices: climate, vegetation, soils, groundwater socio‐economic quality....

The Bolivian Andes have experienced sustained and widespread glacier mass loss in recent decades. Glacier recession has been accompanied by the development of proglacial lakes, which pose a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk to downstream communities infrastructure. Previous research identified three potentially dangerous lakes Andes, but no attempt yet made model GLOF inundation from these lakes. We generated 2-m resolution DEMs stereo tri-stereo SPOT 6/7 satellite images drive...

Savannah ecosystems face significant threats from land degradation, including woody vegetation encroachment. This study introduces a high-resolution method for mapping the fraction of savannah cover by integrating optical (Sentinel-2, S2), radar (Sentinel-1, S1), and auxiliary data. First, comprehensive training dataset fractional (FWC) samples was developed very imagery thousands manually annotated points. Shallow deep learning algorithms were utilised to generate classification masks, with...

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to content, full PDF via the 'Save PDF' action button.

Hydrological connectivity at the hillslope scale is a complex, spatially explicit phenomenon where surface and subsurface processes converge interact, including infiltration, runoff, lateral flow occurring during singular rainfall event under specific antecedent soil moisture conditions.In drylands, Hortonian runoff generation prevails, such complexity has been conceptually simplified for operational purposes by using as proxy assessing ecosystem "health" or land degradation. Grounded in...

Accurately mapping savannah land cover at the regional scale can provide useful input to policy decision making efforts regarding, for example, bush control or overgrazing, as well global carbon emissions models. Recent attempts have employed Earth observation data, either from optical radar sensors, and most commonly dry season when spectral difference between woody vegetation, crops grasses is maximised. By far common practice has been use of Landsat bands, but some studies also used...

The Niger Delta Region is the largest river delta in Africa and features fifth mangrove forest on Earth. It provides numerous ecosystem services to local populations holds a wealth of biodiversity. However, due oil gas reserves explosion human population it under threat from overexploitation degradation. There pressing need for an accurate assessment land cover dynamics region. limited previous efforts have produced controversial results, as area western notorious gaps Landsat archive lack...

Savannahs are heterogeneous environments with an important role in supporting biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services. Due to extensive land use/cover changes subsequent degradation, the provision of ecosystems services from savannahs has increasingly declined over recent years. Mapping extent composition savannah is challenging but order improve monitoring capabilities, prevent loss ensure Here, we tested combinations Sentinel-1 Sentinel-2 data three different seasons...

Abstract In many African countries, anthropogenic pressure and poor governance have led to the degradation of wildlife corridors, which are important for long‐term viability populations. Yet nature such is poorly understood, hindering our ability reverse these trends. We studied a deteriorating corridor between Katavi Mahale National Parks in western Tanzania. Using satellite imagery, we found that still contains large areas natural vegetation, diverse terrain numerous water sources. There...

Time-series of vegetation greenness data, derived from Earth-observation imagery, have become a key source information for studying large-scale environmental change. The ever increasing length such series allows range indicators to be and increasingly complex analyses applied. This study presents an analysis trends in productivity—measured using the Global Inventory Monitoring Modelling System third generation (GIMMS3g) Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data—for African...

Abstract. It is widely accepted that land degradation and desertification (LDD) are serious global threats to humans the environment. Around a third of savannahs in Africa affected by LDD processes may lead substantial declines ecosystem functioning services. Indirectly, can be monitored using relevant indicators. The encroachment woody plants into grasslands, subsequent conversion open woodlands shrublands, has attracted lot attention over last decades been identified as potential indicator...

Afromontane forests are biodiversity hotspots and provide essential ecosystem services. However, they under pressure as a result of an expanding human population the impact climate change. In many instances electric fencing has become necessary management strategy to protect forest integrity reduce human-wildlife conflict. The confining hitherto migratory elephant populations within remains unknown, monitoring largely inaccessible areas is challenging. We explore application remote sensing...

Abstract The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) of Tanzania, is globally significant for biodiversity conservation due to the presence iconic fauna, and, since 1959 has been managed as a unique multiple land‐use areas mutually benefit wildlife and indigenous residents. Understating vegetation dynamics ongoing land cover change processes in protected important protect ensure sustainable development. However, changes savannahs are especially difficult, often long‐term subtle. Here, we...

This study uses a series of Landsat images to map the main land-cover types on Mediterranean island Lesvos, Greece. We compare single-year maximum likelihood classification (MLC) with multi-temporal (MTMLC) approach, time-series class labels modelled using first-order hidden Markov model comprising continuous and discrete variables. A rigorous validation scheme shows statistically significant higher accuracy figures for approach. Land-cover change accuracies were also greatly improved by...

This paper looks at the periodic land use/cover (LUC) changes that occurred in Attica, Greece from 1991 to 2016. During this period, transformations were mostly related artificial LUC categories; therefore, aim was map with a high thematic resolution aimed these specific categories, according their density and continuity. The classification implemented using Random Forests (RF) machine learning algorithm presented methodological framework involved degree of automation. results revealed...