Geospatial Estimation of above Ground Forest Biomass in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the State of Durango, Mexico

Abstract

Combined use of new geospatial techniques and non-parametric multivariate statistical methods enables monitoring and quantification of the biomass of large areas of forest ecosystems with acceptable reliability. The main objective of the present study was to estimate the aboveground forest biomass (AGB) in the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) in the state of Durango, Mexico, using the M5 model tree (M5P) technique and the analysis of medium-resolution satellite-based multi-spectral data, and field data collected from a network of 201 permanent forest growth and soil research sites (SPIFyS). Research plots were installed by systematic sampling throughout the study area in 2011. The digital levels of the images were converted to apparent reflectance (ToA) and surface reflectance (SR). The M5P technique that constructs tree-based piecewise linear models was used. The fitted model with SR and tree abundance by species group as predictive variables (ASG) explained 73% of the observed AGB variance (the root mean squared error (RMSE) = 39.40 Mg¨ha´1). The variables that best discriminated the AGB, in order of decreasing importance, were the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), tree abundance of other broadleaves species (OB), Band 4 of Landsat 5 TM (Thematic Mapper) satellite and tree abundance of pines (Pinus). The results demonstrate the potential usefulness of the M5P method for estimating AGB based in the surface reflectance values (SR).

Relasphone—Mobile and Participative In Situ Forest Biomass Measurements Supporting Satellite Image Mapping

“…Figure 10 presents the AGB map created from the Landsat-8 image using Relasphone stem volume measurements as the reference data. This map is comparable to the AGB map in [60], produced with reference forest inventory data over the same UMAFOR 1008 region. …”

“…A large part of the forestland in Durango (4.9 million ha out of 9.1 million ha) is covered by temperate forest, at a mean elevation of 2650 m above sea level. Precipitation levels in this area average between 800 and 1200 mm per year, and frost occurs in winter due to low temperatures and humid winds [60]. Two-thirds of the total area (latitude: 107 • 11 W-104 • 20 W; longitude: 26 • 50 N-22 • 20 N) is covered by mixed and uneven-aged pine-oak forests (Pinus spp.…”

“…The reference forest inventory data used in this study are a subset of 95 SPIFyS plots, from the 201 SPIFyS plots presented in [60]. The 95 SPIFyS plots are located UMAFOR 1005 and 1008 (Unidad de Manejo Forestal Regional or Regional Forest Management Unit), in the west part of Durango, Mexico; see Figure 3.…”

“…and Quercus spp.). The area contains natural and managed forests (mainly selective logging for almost a century), resulting in an irregular spatial arrangement of trees and variations in the age structure of trees and stands [60].…”

Spectral characterization of forest plantations with Landsat 8/OLI images for forest planning and management

“…The lowest reflectance values were observed in B2 and B4 bands, which agrees with the studies developed by Goergen et al. (2016) and López-Serrano et al (2016). The fact that these wavelengths are associated with the increased absorption of EMR incident on the plant for photosynthesis explains this finding (Jensen, 2009;Ponzoni et al, 2012;Feilhauer et al, 2015).…”