Modeling of Dead Wood Potential Based on Tree Stand Data
Here we present a framework for identifying areas with high dead wood potential (DWP) for conservation planning needs. The amount and quality of dead wood and dying trees are some of the most important factors for biodiversity in forests. As they are easy to recognize on site, it is widely used as a surrogate marker for ecological quality of forests. However, wall-to-wall information on dead wood is rarely available on a large scale as field data collection is expensive and local dead wood conditions change rapidly. Our method is based on the forest growth models in the Motti forest simulator, taking into account 168 combinations of tree species, site types, and vegetation zones as well as …
Advanced Earth observation techniques in forest biodiversity and carbon sequestration mapping
Integrating multisource Earth observation (EO) data and methods allows studying forest biodiversity and carbon sequestration related questions at various spatial and temporal scales. We aim to develop and produce novel remotely sensed variables describing biodiversity and ecosystem properties using a multi-sensor approach. We utilize 1) optical satellite images (e.g. Sentinel, Landsat), 2) airborne laser scanning data, and 3) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Optical remote sensing covers large geographical areas at 10-30 m spatial resolution and temporal span of several decades. Laser scanning is a superb method to capture the 3D structure of forested ecosystems with sub-meter accuracy, and…