Degradation of Ecosystems: Characterization with Remote Sensing

ABSTRACT: The degradation of natural ecosystems by natural vectors (floods, severe droughts, windstorms, etc.) and  anthropogenic factors (fires, deforestation, logging, etc.) causes biodiversity reduction and the loss of various ecosystem  services. Despite its relevance to science and society, there are still many gaps in understanding this phenomenon. A wide  range of data and remote sensing techniques have been used to detect and assess the impacts caused by ecosystem  degradation, either directly or indirectly, including optical, radar, and LiDAR imagery. Various techniques, from  traditional change detection algorithms to more sophisticated machine learning-based models, can capture changes in the  spectral response of targets that have undergone disturbances or are experiencing degradation processes over time. This  session will present and discuss the state of the art in detecting and mapping ecosystem degradation using remote sensing  data, involving local and broader scale initiatives and case studies. Additionally, data and available databases for  assessing ecosystem degradation will be presented and discussed, including their advantages and limitations, and the most  commonly used techniques and models for this purpose.