Mapping and spatial modelling of bamboo in the Brazilian Amazon

Due to anthropogenic alterations such as forest harvesting, fragmentation and forest degradation has occurred enabling the invasion of native bamboo species which are contributing to habitat degradation and reduction of tree species in the remaining forested areas of Brazil. Currently, the primary method of monitoring forests dominated by bamboos is based on field observations. However, advances in aerial and satellite imagery quality provides an opportunity to advance spatial-temporal bamboo monitoring techniques and the ability to analyze the dynamics of land use and occupation of bamboos. The main objective of the project is to identify and distinguish a spectral signature specific to bamboo and to develop methods based in remote sensing and GIS application to detect regions of vegetation that are being affected by native bamboo, for both quantification and spatio-temporal analysis.

Faculty Supervisor:

Colin Robertson

Student:

Clara Greig

Partner:

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

University:

Wilfrid Laurier University

Program:

Globalink Research Award