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Limited awareness of environmental remote sensing's potential ability to support environmental policy development constrains the technology's utilization. This paper reviews the potential of earth observation from the perspective of environmental policy. A literature review of "remote sensing and policy" revealed that while the number of publications in this field increased almost twice as rapidly as that of remote sensing literature as a whole (15.3 versus 8.8% yr −1 ), there is apparently little academic interest in the societal contribution of environmental remote sensing. This is because none of the more than 300 peer reviewed papers described actual policy support. This paper describes and discusses the potential, actual support, and limitations of earth observation with respect to supporting the various stages of environmental policy development. Examples are given of the use of remote sensing in problem identification and policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy control and evaluation. While initially, remote sensing contributed primarily to the identification of environmental problems and policy implementation, more recently, interest expanded to applications in policy control and evaluation. The paper concludes that the potential of earth observation to control and OPEN ACCESSRemote Sensing 2010, 2 1732 evaluate, and thus assess the efficiency and effectiveness of policy, offers the possibility of strengthening governance.

Mosaics of natural forest and grassland tracts in sub-Saharan Africa provide differences in woody species biodiversity. These mosaics are of considerable interest as they are a major biodiversity bank. Their richness is felt to be threatened, for example by local burning. This study focuses on the impact of burning on biodiversity in the Budongo Forest Reserve in Uganda. Woody species at different development stages are compared between a forest stratum and the adjacent grassland stratum. Spatial variability of biodiversity indices is analysed within and between these strata, using statistical and geostatistical analysis methods. The forest stratum shows a higher woody species diversity on a per plot basis. With overall species diversity calculations, however, the grassland stratum has a higher woody species variability than the forest. For the long-term preservation of woody species diversity in this landscape, it is necessary to reconsider and adjust current management practices to maintain (fire) disturbances. #

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