Monitoring forest change

Development of a multi-scale remote sensing system for the monitoring of forest structure, biodiversity, and climate-related disturbances in Lower Saxony’s forests.#

Forests are increasingly affected by climate-related disturbances such as storms, droughts, and bark beetle infestations. To better understand and respond to these challenges, we are developing a remote sensing-based monitoring system for forest changes that provides up-to-date information on disturbances, as well as on habitat characteristics that can be used to assess biodiversity status.

We use technologies such as Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and photogrammetric point clouds to capture detailed structural features of forests, including tree heights, canopy densities, and tree counts. These high-resolution spatial data are complemented by satellite imagery, which allows for large-scale monitoring of forest changes with high temporal frequency. The combination of satellite and airborne systems unlocks the great potential of remote sensing to monitor climate-induced forest changes.

In Phase I, subproject 2 (SP2) will identify forest structural indicators linked to disturbance susceptibility and develop a multi-scale monitoring system for the forests of Lower Saxony. In Phase II, the focus will shift to deriving biodiversity indicators from remote sensing data and integrating them into the monitoring system.

SP2 works closely with other subprojects to ensure seamless data exchange and effective integration. The remote sensing products developed in SP2 support biodiversity modeling (SP4), disturbance probability modeling (SP6), and communication strategies (SP7 & SP8). By aligning with the information needs of relevant stakeholders, SP2 contributes to a comprehensive forest monitoring system that provides current and relevant information for science, policy, and sustainable forest management.