Implementation of Forest Canopy Density Model to Monitor Forest Fragmentation in Mt. Simpang and Mt. Tilu Nature Reserves, West Java, Indonesia

Mt. Simpang and Mt. Tilu Nature Reserve which cover 23,000 hectares area, are the largest nature reserves in West Java (Whitten et al. 1996). Besides their important value as places of high biodiversity and as water towers, these reserves face severe threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation (MST 2000). Remote sensing has the ability to identify destructed and fragmented part of the reserves with the quickest and the most efficient way. In this research, Forest Canopy Density Model was used to detect the percentage of crown closures (canopy), which indicates the level of degradation. The model was used due to its independency from accuracy assessment. The result shows that FCD model was able to detect forest canopywithin one type vegetation. It was not able to differentiate forest canopy among two types of vegetation. Teak plantation outside the reserves showed greater FCD value than natural forest. Further research which incorporates other parameters is needed to overcome this problem.