Identification and quantification of deforestation in El Bierzo (1989-2010)
Channel: Geomática en Ponferrada (Geomatics)
Date: 2013-02-05

With the execution of this project it is expect to analyze the evolution of forests all along the entire area of the region of El Bierzo, between the years 1989-2010, using spectral analysis techniques. The topic to consider is especially important nowadays, however, forests represent a very important part of the existing natural carbon sinks, that is to say its function vital, photosynthesis, capture CO2 from the atmosphere making up for the levels of this gas. The definition of forest establish by Spain for the Kioto protocol is the following sentence: minimum surface of land between 0.05 and 1.0 hectares (ha) with a crown cover ( or an equivalent population density) that exceeds from 10 to 30% and with trees able to reach a minimum height of 2 to 5 meters at their maturity. The Kioto protocol is an international agreement that aims to reduce the emissions of the six greenhouse gases causing the global warming, taking as a starting point the 1990 emissions. Each signatory country has their percentage of maximum decrease and increase emissions (Spain +15%). According to this treaty, they have to perform activities, encouraged by men, in addition to those made in 1990, activities such as: Management of agricultural lands, forests, pasture or restoration of the vegetation. Spain has chosen from these activities the management of forests and farmlands. From here the importance of the topic to be treated. The purpose of the project is to obtain a map which shows the variation of the forest mass in the study area and the time period mentioned. Used as basis 5TM LANDSAT images of June for the years 1989 and 2010 respectively, to be held on a spectral analysis with the help of the specific software. It will require a previous pre-processing (geometric and radiometric adjustment) of images to facilitate further processing. Vegetation indices NDVI and TCT were generated. The images will be classified from training areas generated with the help of orthophotos and the Corine Land Cover.These classifications will be validated using the validation pixel. Finally, a analysis of multitemporal data set and the results were discussed.

Authors

Alba María Blanco Delgado (abland00(at)estudiantes.unileon.es)
Pablo Cachón Conde 
Diego Castro Navas 
Ignacio García Reguera

University of León (Spain)