Ecological networks: A spatial concept for multi-actor planning of sustainable landscapes

Ecological studies need accurate environmental data such as vegetation characterization, landscape structure and organization, to predict and explain the spatial distribution of biodiversity. Few ecological studies use remote sensing data to assess the biophysical or structural properties of vegetation to understand species distribution. To date, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have seldom been used for ecological applications. However, these sensors provide data allowing access to the inner structure of vegetation which is a key information in ecology. The objective of this article is to compare the predictive power of ecological habitat structure variables derived from a TerraSAR-X image, an aerial photograph and a SPOT-5 image for species distribution. The test was run with a hedgerow network in Brittany and assessed the spatial distribution of the forest ground carabid beetles which inhabit these hedgerows. The results confirmed that radar and optical images can be indifferently used to extract hedgerow network and derived landscape metrics (hedgerow density, network grain) useful to explain the spatial distribution of forest carabid beetles. In comparison with passive optical remotely sensed data, VHSR SAR images provide new data to characterize vegetation structure and more particularly hedgerow canopy cover, a variable known to explain the spatial distribution of carabid beetles in an agricultural landscape, but not yet quantified at a fine scale. The hedgerow canopy cover derived from the SAR image is 2 a strong predictor of the abundance of forest carabid beetles at two scales i.e. a local scale and a landscape scale. Keywordsbiodiversity, remote sensing, forest carabid beetles, hedgerow canopy cover, landscape scale, quantitative maps

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“…For instance ecological networks are part of most planning schemes (Opdam et al 2006). Hedgerow networks are often a reference in these schemes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing ecological habitat structure from local to landscape scales using synthetic aperture radar

Betbeder

Hubert‐Moy

Burel

et al. 2015

Ecological Indicators

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“…It is protected through a range of national and international laws and treaties. Large parts are included in the planning instruments of habitat-networks and greenways that are developed in several European countries (Opdam et al, 2006;Van Haaren and Reich, 2006) and in the similarly designed EU Natura 2000 network (Chilla, 2007). In principle, the EU Wild Birds and Habitats directives protect all places that are important to ecologically valued species in the area.…”

Section: Formal Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near-shore wind power—Protected seascapes, environmentalists’ attitudes, and the technocratic planning perspective

Wolsink¹

2010

Land Use Policy

140

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“…Decision making based on the biophysical, economic and socio-cultural information provides an opportunity to overcome these constraints while ensuring sustainability of natural resources (Opdam et al 2006;Watson et al 2011a). Sustainable landscape planning aims for stability in ecological, physical and social systems (cultural, economic functions) by maintaining the sustainability of natural resources with intergeneration equity (Opdam et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sustainable landscape planning aims for stability in ecological, physical and social systems (cultural, economic functions) by maintaining the sustainability of natural resources with intergeneration equity (Opdam et al 2006). Prioritisation of sensitive regions for conservation (Myers et al 2000) through a multidisciplinary approach is widely accepted norm to identify hotspots of biodiversity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salient Ecological Sensitive Regions of Central Western Ghats, India

et al. 2018

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Ecologically sensitive regions (ESRs) are the 'ecological units' with the exceptional biotic and abiotic elements. Identification of ESRs considering spatially both ecological and social dimensions of environmental variables helps in ecological and conservation planning as per Biodiversity Act, 2002, Government of India. The current research attempts to integrate ecological and environmental considerations into administration, and prioritizes regions at Panchayat levels (local administrative unit) in Uttara Kannada district, Central Western Ghats, Karnataka state considering attributes (biological, Geo-climatic, Social, etc.) as ESR (1-4) through weightage score metrics. The region has the distinction of having highest forest area (80.48%) in Karnataka State, India and has been undergoing severe anthropogenic pressures impacting biogeochemistry, hydrology, food security, climate and socio-economic systems. Prioritisation of ESRs helps in the implementation of the sustainable developmental framework with the appropriate conservation strategies through the involvement of local stakeholders.

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Ecological networks: A spatial concept for multi-actor planning of sustainable landscapes

Cited by 405 publications

References 44 publications

Assessing ecological habitat structure from local to landscape scales using synthetic aperture radar

Assessing ecological habitat structure from local to landscape scales using synthetic aperture radar

Near-shore wind power—Protected seascapes, environmentalists’ attitudes, and the technocratic planning perspective

Salient Ecological Sensitive Regions of Central Western Ghats, India

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