.jpeg)
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with it. Remote sensing can be used to monitor and manage forest resources, such as forest cover, forest health, forest fires, forest inventory, forest biodiversity, and forest carbon. Remote sensing can also support sustainable forestry activities, such as forest planning, forest conservation, forest restoration, and forest policy.
In Kenya, remote sensing can be used to promote sustainable forestry activities in various ways. Some of the applications and benefits of remote sensing in Kenya are:
- Mapping and monitoring forest cover: Remote sensing can provide accurate and timely information on the extent, distribution, and change of forest cover in Kenya. This can help to assess the status and trends of forest resources, identify deforestation and degradation hotspots, and evaluate the impacts of forest interventions. Remote sensing can also support the development and implementation of the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and the National Forest Reference Level (NFRL) for REDD+⁴, which are key components of the country's forest policy and strategy.
- Forest fire detection and monitoring: Remote sensing can help to detect and monitor forest fires in Kenya, which are a major threat to forest resources and biodiversity. Remote sensing can provide near-real-time information on the location, extent, and severity of forest fires, as well as the fire risk and fire behavior. This can help to enhance the fire management capacity, reduce the fire damage, and improve the fire response and recovery.
- Forest inventory and biomass estimation: Remote sensing can help to estimate the forest inventory and biomass in Kenya, which are important indicators of forest productivity and carbon stocks. Remote sensing can provide spatially explicit and cost-effective data on the forest structure, composition, and density, as well as the aboveground and belowground biomass. This can help to improve the forest resource assessment, support the forest carbon accounting, and inform the forest management and utilization.
- Forest planning and management: Remote sensing can help to support the forest planning and management in Kenya, which are essential for sustainable forest use and conservation. Remote sensing can provide spatial data and analysis tools for forest management decision-making, such as forest zoning, forest allocation, forest harvesting, forest restoration, and forest protection. Remote sensing can also facilitate the participation and collaboration of various stakeholders, such as forest managers, communities, and researchers, in the forest planning and management process.
- Forest health assessment: Remote sensing can help to assess the forest health in Kenya, which is a measure of the forest condition and resilience. Remote sensing can provide information on the forest stressors, such as pests, diseases, drought, and pollution, as well as the forest responses, such as growth, mortality, and regeneration. This can help to identify and monitor the forest health issues, evaluate the forest health impacts, and implement the forest health interventions.
- Biodiversity assessment: Remote sensing can help to assess the forest biodiversity in Kenya, which is a measure of the forest diversity and richness. Remote sensing can provide information on the forest species, such as plants, animals, and fungi, as well as the forest habitats, such as forest types, forest patches, and forest corridors. This can help to map and monitor the forest biodiversity, identify and prioritize the forest biodiversity hotspots, and conserve and restore the forest biodiversity.
- Carbon sequestration assessment: Remote sensing can help to assess the forest carbon sequestration in Kenya, which is a measure of the forest contribution to climate change mitigation. Remote sensing can provide information on the forest carbon sources and sinks, such as forest emissions and removals, as well as the forest carbon potential and performance, such as forest mitigation actions and results. This can help to estimate and report the forest carbon balance, implement and verify the forest carbon projects, and access the forest carbon finance.
Conclusion:
Remote sensing is a valuable technology for sustainable forest monitoring and management. In Kenya, remote sensing can be used to promote sustainable forestry activities, such as forest mapping, forest fire detection, forest inventory, forest planning, forest health assessment, forest biodiversity assessment, and forest carbon sequestration assessment. Remote sensing can also support the implementation of the national forest policy and strategy, as well as the participation of the REDD+ mechanism. Remote sensing can therefore enhance the conservation and sustainable use of forest resources in Kenya, and contribute to the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the country.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 11/26/2023
(1) Ministry of Environment and Forestry The National Forest ... - UNFCCC. https://redd.unfccc.int/media/kenya_national_frl_report-_august_2020.pdf.
(2) 9 Application of Remote Sensing In Forest Management. https://www.spatialpost.com/application-of-remote-sensing-in-forest-management/.
(3) Forests | Special Issue : Applications of Remote Sensing to Forestry - MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/forests/special_issues/remote_sensing_forestry.
(4) Remote Sensing Technology Applications in Forestry and REDD+ - MDPI. https://res.mdpi.com/d_attachment/forests/forests-11-00188/article_deploy/forests-11-00188.pdf.
(5) Remote sensing in forestry: current challenges, considerations and .... https://academic.oup.com/forestry/advance-article/doi/10.1093/forestry/cpad024/7159227.
