Perspectives of Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Tropical Forest Management

Mukete Beckline

doi:10.11648/j.ajaf.20170503.11

Abstract

Tropical forest management requires could be improved through the use of current technologies including remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). In this paper, we characterize and evaluate forest management patterns and relate this to modern technologies such as geographical information systems and remote sensing. We further examine the application of these modern technologies in tropical forestry and conservation. To achieve this, we carried out a comprehensive survey of published scientific literature obtained through Web of Science, Mendeley, Researchgate and Google Scholar. We observed that, the relationships between forestry management, modern technologies have shifted over time. These have depended on how management activities such as planting and harvesting, interact with other drivers and disturbances (fire, pests and diseases) to influence the adaptive capacity of forests. Forest management and new technologies are interrelated because the technologies support management actions; hence contribute to global forest resources management and conservation.

Highlights

With increasing public awareness of natural resource policies, forest management has shifted from a mere extraction of timber, to Mukete Beckline et al.: Perspectives of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) Applications in Tropical Forest Management the conservation of biodiversity, forest resources, watershed management, recreation and carbon sequestration (Paivinen et al, 2010; Duncker et al, 2012)
Benefits that could be derived from a full-scale exploitation of remote sensing and GIS technologies include the sustainable management of non-timber forest products
Of the over 3000 publications, only about 152 publications had directly investigated modern technologies as related to forestry. These papers were mostly conducted in Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia with very limited from Africa and the small Island states. We used this information to present a detailed analysis of management patterns of forest use and how these relate to geographical information systems and remote sensing technologies

Summary

Background

Forests play an important role in regulating the global climate and serve as source of timber, fuel and fodder for forest dwellers (FAO, 2014; Bazezew et al, 2015). With increasing public awareness of natural resource policies, forest management has shifted from a mere extraction of timber, to Mukete Beckline et al.: Perspectives of Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Tropical Forest Management the conservation of biodiversity, forest resources, watershed management, recreation and carbon sequestration (Paivinen et al, 2010; Duncker et al, 2012). Many of these management actions contribute to climate change mitigation through reducing emissions from forests, conserving forest carbon or enhancing forest carbon sinks (FAO, 2012). These characteristics facilitate in conceptualizing the situation and help in translating impacts prediction results into appropriate management plan and policy measures

Situational Analysis

Relevance of the Study

Methodology

Landuse and Forest Cover Change

Conclusion