3D Remote Sensing Provides Ecosystem Management Answers in Africa
conservation, earth observation, environmental monitoring March 3rd, 2009
- 3D images of African savanna vegetation. Large herbivores have been excluded (left) and allowed access (right). Credit: Asner Lab, Carnegie Institution.
The Carnegie Institution has been flying their Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) over large areas of the Kruger National Park in South Africa to help determine the impact of herbivores on soils and vegetation. The CAO combines LIDAR for 3D mapping with high-fidelity imaging spectrometers to create detailed images that reveal the structural complexity of vegitation between herbivore and herbivore-free areas.
“Among the surprises in
the study’s results is that the impact of the large herbivores on
vegetation cover is highest in areas where the soil had the highest
concentration of nutrients, not areas with poor-quality soil. The
researchers interpret this to mean that herbivores concentrate their
feeding in areas of high-quality forage, so these areas suffer a
disproportionate impact.”
The CAO survey is being credited with providing an entirely different view of the large-scale impact of land management decisions. The research will continue at Kruger National Park with a study planned on the effects of fire on savanna vegetation.
Read more about these efforts on the Carnegie Institution’s website.
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