The International Union of Forest Research Organizations continues to foster collaborative, international research in all aspects of forest science.
IUFRO: the International Union of Forest Research Organizations
New Assessment Tools for Landscape Ecologists
New operational tools for landscape management were recently presented and showcased at the IUFRO Landscape Ecology Working Group International Conference, held in ConcepciÌ_n, Chile.
Ten African countries unite to protect rainforests
Ten central African countries have come together to protect the Congo Basin rainforest — the world’s second largest rainforest — from severe deforestation, through implementing improved national forest monitoring systems and boosting regional cooperation.
UK Satellite Company to Combat Deforestation to Meet REDD+ Goals
A UK satellite imaging company’s services will help the international REDD+ mission, which aims to decrease forest degradation and deforestation.
The Changing California Coast: Relationships Between Climatic Variables and Coastal Vegetation Succession
Understanding patterns of vegetation change and related climatic factors are critical, especially in light of future climate change projections that could profoundly alter vegetation patterns and processes. A recent NASA Applied Sciences DEVELOP project focused on the use of the Landsat-5 TM satellite images to assess the general vegetation distribution pattern and areas of vegetation change along the California coast from 1985-2010.
Remote Sensing Emerges as an Important Tool for Habitat and Species Conservation
Remote sensing has emerged as an important tool to help identify habitats most in need of conservation. But applying remotely sensed data has its challenges. To solve these problems, the Joint Research Center of the European Commission has developed the Digital Observatory for Protected Areas (DOPA) to help assess, monitor and forecast the status and environmental pressures faced in protected areas.
The Water Question in Lake Chad Basin: Lessons from the Drought in Somalia
Will an effective mechanism be put in place to detect the onset of drought in Africa’s Lake Chad Basin? What needs to be done to minimize adverse effects of drought in the basin? In this essay, scientific perspectives are applied to explain and compare the complex nature of the current drought in Somalia and the Lake Chad Basin.
Using the Landsat Archive for the Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Wetlands: Examples from the GlobWetland-II Project
Coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean have undergone considerable land use and land cover changes in recent decades, by way of urban growth and increasing tourism infrastructure. The GlobWetland-II project makes use of the 35 years of Landsat archives for a basic identification and delineation of wetlands during 1975, 1990, and 2005. The authors present results of wetland identification and delineation mapping from 1975 to 2002, for the test sites of the Menderes Delta and GÌ_llÌ_k Bay.
The Price of Life: A Look at the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Scientists, citizens, non-governmental organizations and governments need to find a shared language. As the language of the market system, economic valuation can offer common communication that creates a bridge between different fields of work. A synthesis called TEEB outlines an approach to environmental valuation and offers recommendations on how decision-makers can use the plan as an informative tool.
Interactive Map Viewer Launched to Monitor Congo Forests
The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched its first interactive map viewer of the Forest Atlas to monitor forests and provide transparent, accessible information to government sectors and the public.