Estimation of forest degradation distribution using landsat sattelite imagery in Besitang forest landscape

Abstract

Sumatra rain forest is a hot spot for flora and fauna biodiversity in the world and also habitat for many endangered species. Of the mammal species, four key species were found here those were Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrensis), Orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Sumatran Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Forest degradation has been a global phenomenon and while being an important indicator to further forest loss, decreasing habitat quality of wild animal and species extinction. Besitang Forest is the habitats for three key mammal species in North Sumatra. Forest conversion, forest disturbance, and human activities in this site threaten the existence of this species. The objective of this research was to determine the spatial model of forest canopy cover and spatial distribution of forest degradation in Besitang Forest in period 2008 - 2016. Forest canopy cover value was estimated through Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) value from satellite Landsat imagery using the regression model. Forest degradation was measured by comparing the spatial distribution of forest canopy cover in 2008 and forest canopy cover in 2016. The result showed that NDVI approaches could estimate the forest canopy cover with R2 value 79.0. Forest degradation in Besitang landscape was classified into high (527.85 ha), medium (9,763.83 ha) and low (28,898.73 ha).