Monitoring forest dynamics between 1987-2023: an NDVI analysis of three dominant species in Paphos Forest, Cyprus
Journal
Proceedings of SPIE - The international society for optical engineering
Date Issued
September 13, 2024
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3035335
Abstract
Species-level monitoring in satellite remote sensing is crucial, providing detailed insights into biodiversity and ecological
interactions. Each species responds differently to environmental shifts, and their health directly impacts ecosystem
functioning. In this study, a comprehensive temporal analysis of vegetation dynamics was conducted in the Paphos forest
in Cyprus, a unique ecological region hosting a variety of endemic species. This study focuses on the three dominant species:
Pinus brutia, Quercus Alnifolia, and Cedrus Brevifolia. Monthly Landsat satellite images (Landsat 4,5, 7, 8, and 9) from
1987 to 2023 have been processed to assess the species vegetation dynamics with the Normalised Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI) compared with precipitation derived from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station
data (CHIRPS). Image harmonisation was performed via the Google Earth Engine (GEE), applying a scaling factor within
the Landsat missions to ensure consistency and comparability across the different Landsat missions. The results revealed an
overall increase in NDVI values for all three species during the study period, possibly related to the reforestations conducted
in the last decades combined with the increased precipitation for the years of study. Contrary to the environmental stress
(e.g., climate change, deforestation, etc) that the Mediterranean forests have been facing in the last century, our results
indicate an enhancement in the health and productivity of these species over the past three decades. Understanding these
temporal changes is crucial for biodiversity conservation and forest management. The findings of this study contribute
significantly to our understanding of forest dynamics while delivering valuable information for future conservation
strategies in the Paphos forest.
interactions. Each species responds differently to environmental shifts, and their health directly impacts ecosystem
functioning. In this study, a comprehensive temporal analysis of vegetation dynamics was conducted in the Paphos forest
in Cyprus, a unique ecological region hosting a variety of endemic species. This study focuses on the three dominant species:
Pinus brutia, Quercus Alnifolia, and Cedrus Brevifolia. Monthly Landsat satellite images (Landsat 4,5, 7, 8, and 9) from
1987 to 2023 have been processed to assess the species vegetation dynamics with the Normalised Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI) compared with precipitation derived from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station
data (CHIRPS). Image harmonisation was performed via the Google Earth Engine (GEE), applying a scaling factor within
the Landsat missions to ensure consistency and comparability across the different Landsat missions. The results revealed an
overall increase in NDVI values for all three species during the study period, possibly related to the reforestations conducted
in the last decades combined with the increased precipitation for the years of study. Contrary to the environmental stress
(e.g., climate change, deforestation, etc) that the Mediterranean forests have been facing in the last century, our results
indicate an enhancement in the health and productivity of these species over the past three decades. Understanding these
temporal changes is crucial for biodiversity conservation and forest management. The findings of this study contribute
significantly to our understanding of forest dynamics while delivering valuable information for future conservation
strategies in the Paphos forest.
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