1. Field survey sheet
2. Forest clearing
3. Map of survey missions
| Objective
Monitor compliance with environmental safeguards of the Nam Theun II Social and Environment Project to protect the natural resources in the upstream areas of the future hydro-power reservoir
Methodology
This analysis uses optical remote sensing data to detect changes in forest cover and land use in the upstream areas of the Nam Theun II reservoir that are potentially indicative of illegal logging and undesired infractions into protected zones (e.g. by shifting cultivation). To do this, up-to-date satellite imagery from the Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper instrument was co-registered to historical satellite observation and analyzed to identify locations of recent forest cover change. The multi-temporal satellite imagery was geo-referenced to ancillary spatial data, including roads, hamlets and villages, vegetation, topography, political boundaries, and geographic positioning system (GPS) coordinates were recorded in the lab for subsequent surveillance in the field. Results
The analysis provided a low-cost method to identify areas of potential changes in forest cover that guided the surveillance mission in the field. The approach effectively identified illegal logging and non-compliance with watershed and forest management practices that could be validated in the field. Further, it provided an objective tool to communicate with counterparts and discuss compliance with environmental safeguards, and established a baseline for future follow-up work. Links Contact
Alexander Lotsch Bill Magrath |
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