scholarly journals Monitoring and assessment of endangered UNESCO World Heritage Sites using space technology: a case study of East Rennell, Solomon Islands

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sijia Huo ◽  
Mengmeng Wang ◽  
Guolong Chen ◽  
Huiqin Shu ◽  
Ruixia Yang
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Weak Continuity ◽  
Regeneration Ability ◽  
Space Technology ◽  
Forest Cover Change ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
World Natural Heritage

AbstractSpace technology offers effective tools to monitor the status of World Natural Heritage sites. East Rennell Island, which covers approximately 37,000 hectares (ha) and a marine area extending three nautical miles into the sea, was added to the list of endangered World Natural Heritage sites in 2013. Deforestation and natural disasters have increasingly threatened sustainable development on the island. Based on analyses of multi-source time series of remote sensing data (e.g., MODIS and Worldview), the forest cover change on Rennell Island from 2000 to 2020 and its future trends were mapped and analysed using Sen + Mann–Kendall and Hurst index models. A land cover classification system derived from high-resolution Worldview images was developed as a baseline for monitoring and analysing future forest cover changes on the island. Our results showed that (1) the areas of vegetation degradation and improvement were basically equal from 2000 to 2020. (2) The forest cover change trend had weak continuity, and significant improvements could be achieved in areas with damaged vegetation given sufficient protection measures and financial input. (3) This heritage site has a strong vegetation regeneration ability, and human activities such as mining, logging, and road construction, which could greatly disturb the unique ecosystem, should be restricted.

scholarly journals Monitoring and Assessment on the UNESCO Endangered Heritage Sites using Space Technology-A Case Study on East Rennell, Solomon Islands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sijia Huo ◽  
Wang Mengmeng ◽  
GuoLong Chen ◽  
Shu Huiqin ◽  
RuiXia Yang
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Road Construction ◽  
Space Technology ◽  
Forest Cover Change ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
The Status ◽  
Long Time

Abstract Space technology is an effective approach to monitor the status of World Natural Heritage sites. East Rennell Island has been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in danger since 2013. The site includes approximately 37,000 hectare (ha) and a marine area extending three nautical miles to sea. Deforestation and natural disasters have become the increasing factors threatening its sustainable development. Based on the analyses of multi-source long-time series remote sensing data like MODIS and Worldview data, the forest cover change and its future trends in Rennell Island from 2000 to 2020 have been mapped and assessed using Sen + Mann-Kendall and Hurst index models. A land cover classification system derived from the high-resolution Worldview images was developed as a baseline product for monitoring and analyzing future forest cover changes in East Rennell Island. Our results show that: (1) Area of the vegetation degradation is basically same as that of vegetation improvement from 2000 to 2020. (2) The trend of forest cover change is weak in continuity, and significant improvements in damaged vegetation can be implemented but it needs enough protection measures and financial input. (3) This heritage site has a strong ability to regenerate vegetation, and it is recommended to restrict the human activities like the mining, logging, and road construction, which could greatly disturb the unique ecosystem.

scholarly journals Ecosystem Health Assessment of World Natural Heritage Sites Based on Remote Sensing and Field Sampling Verification: Bayanbulak as Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2610
Author(s):  
Zhi Wang ◽  
Zhaoping Yang ◽  
Hui Shi ◽  
Fang Han ◽  
Qin Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Ecosystem Health ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Ecological Monitoring ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
World Natural Heritage ◽  
Over Time

Monitoring the ecosystem health for world natural heritage sites is essential for protecting them and benefits the formulation of more targeted protection policies. This study used Bayanbulak world natural heritage site as a case, established a framework for assessing the ecosystem health through remote sensing based on the parameters of ecosystem vigour, organization, resilience, and services. Then, we verified the obtained results through field sampling. The results show that the ecosystem health in the overall study area had declined over time, however, the health within the property zone remained at high levels and stable. The area proportion of low health was low and primarily distributed in the buffer zone. Thus, in general, the ecosystem in the study area was healthy. Besides, the ecosystem health exhibited distinct spatial agglomeration characteristics, and the degree of agglomeration enhanced over time. In addition, the field vegetation samplings were consistent with the changes in the ecosystem health levels, therefore, the result of RS monitoring of ecosystem health were credible. Thus, this study provides a scientific basis for heritage managers to formulate suitable ecological protection policies and should aid further research on the ecological monitoring of heritage sites.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Exploratory Analysis of Ecological Integrity for Safeguarding World Natural Heritage Sites: Case Study of Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan

Heritage ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 898-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhik Chakraborty ◽  
Takeshi Takenaka
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Ecological Integrity ◽  
Keystone Species ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Anthropogenic Stress ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
World Natural Heritage

This article reports the findings of an exploratory study on the complexity and challenges of managing UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites (WNHS). Despite their protected status, the majority of the WNHS currently face severe anthropogenic stress. While several studies have analyzed this scenario with spatial analysis and review of global trends, this research provides a qualitative analysis of ongoing fragmentation and impact in a specific site by employing the Ecological Integrity (EI) concept to the Shiretoko Peninsula WNHS in Japan. Insights from key scientific literature are synthesized with those from research and monitoring of the Blakiston’s Fish Owl (a keystone species). Findings indicate that ecosystems of Shiretoko WNHS have not sufficiently recovered from the intensive anthropogenic disruption in the 20th century and in some cases face novel stressors from tourism development after the inscription. Besides, ongoing construction of roads and facilities affects fine-scale heterogeneity in the surrounding landscape. The findings highlight the urgent need of protecting lower trophic level species, stream and forest restoration, and restricting infrastructure development. This implies that WNHS managers must implement measures to meaningfully offset anthropogenic stress on EI, and WNHS management should be integrated with the management of its surrounding landscapes.

scholarly journals World Natural Heritage sites and regional development – the cases of Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-48
Author(s):  
Katharina Conradin ◽  
Miriam Chiyumba ◽  
Boniface Kiteme ◽  
Simon N. Mwaura ◽  
Karina Liechti
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
World Natural Heritage

scholarly journals Understanding 34 Years of Forest Cover Dynamics across the Paraguayan Chaco: Characterizing Annual Changes and Forest Fragmentation Levels between 1987 and 2020

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Da Da Ponte ◽  
Monserrat García-Calabrese ◽  
Jennifer Kriese ◽  
Nestor Cabral ◽  
Lidia Perez de Perez de Molas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Forest Cover Change ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Forest Clearing ◽  
Deforestation Rates ◽  
Degree Of Fragmentation

Over the past 40 years, Paraguay has lost the majority of its natural forest cover, thus becoming one of the countries with the highest deforestation rates in the world. The rapid expansion of the agricultural frontier, cattle ranching, and illegal logging between 1987 and 2012 resulted in the loss of 27% of original forest cover, equivalent to almost 44,000 km2. Within this context, the present research provides the first yearly analysis of forest cover change in the Paraguayan Chaco between the years 1987 and 2020. Remote sensing data obtained from Landsat images were applied to derive annual forest cover masks and deforestation rates over 34 years. Part of this study is a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of protected areas, as well as an analysis of the degree of fragmentation of the forest. All classification results obtained accuracies above 80% and revealed a total forest cover loss of approximately 64,700 km2. Forest clearing within protected areas was not frequent; however, some natural reserves presented losses of up to 25% of their forest cover. Through the consideration of several landscape metrics, this study reveals an onward fragmentation of forest cover, which endangers the natural habitat of numerous species.

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