456
for the full potential of RS to be realized (Cabello et al. 2012; Paganini et al. 2016).
Coupled with this is the need for advances in sensor technologies that will enable
accurate, timely data with the right thematic, i.e., where interpretation of the sensor’s raw data can provide the information necessary for applications in ecosystem
function and biodiversity. Further, data should be open access, maintained, and
interoperable (Pettorelli et al. 2017), particularly given the plethora of existing
local to regional scale data capture initiatives by airborne methods based on drones
or airplanes (Cord et al. 2017). Finally, RS proxies will often need to be combined
with field measurements to accurately represent the desired ecosystem function
(e.g., Tong et al. 2004). Indeed, joint analyses of satellite data with in-situ measurements or process measurements in the lab may be essential steps to the refinement
and increased capacity and utility of satellite-based indicators for ecosystem function monitoring (see also Meireles et al., Chap. 7, in this book). This is likely to be
a nontrivial task, particularly in highly dynamic situations.
17.3 Conservation
Global environmental change has led to major losses, changes, and erosion of biodiversity and ecosystem function and counteracted to some extent by conservation
action. Conservation science focuses on understanding the distribution of organisms, their rarity status, the viability of populations, drivers and disturbances, and
current and future restoration need. RS has been increasingly used to answer conservation science questions and applications (Rose et al. 2015), namely, species
mapping (see Chaps. 9, 10, and 11 in this book by Record et al.; Paz et al.; PintoLedezma), biodiversity monitoring (Feret and Asner 2014; Rocchini et al. 2017),
detecting invasive alien species (see Bolch et al., Chap. 12, in this book), assessing
vegetation condition, monitoring carbon storage and credits, and assessing habitat
extent and condition (see Record et al., Chap. 10, in this book), among others
(Bustamante et al. 2016; Lawley et al. 2016; Niphadkar and Nagendra 2016; Reddy
et al. 2017). Here, we focus on aspects of conservation related to the abovementioned measures of ecosystem function at large scales.
17.3.1 Biodiversity Monitoring
RS has long been recognized as useful for biodiversity measurement (Stoms and
Estes 1993; Turner et al. 2003; Turner 2014), and more recently it has emerged
prominently in biodiversity monitoring, through essential biodiversity variables
(Pereira et al. 2013; Skidmore et al. 2015; Pereira et al. 2015). Rose et al. (2015)
identified the top ten applications of RS in conservation, namely, for species distribution and abundance, movement and life stages, ecosystem processes, climate
change, rapid response, protected areas, ecosystem services, conservation effectiveness, changes in land use/cover, and degradation and disturbance regimes.
F. Schrodt et al.
for the full potential of RS to be realized (Cabello et al. 2012; Paganini et al. 2016).
Coupled with this is the need for advances in sensor technologies that will enable
accurate, timely data with the right thematic, i.e., where interpretation of the sensor’s raw data can provide the information necessary for applications in ecosystem
function and biodiversity. Further, data should be open access, maintained, and
interoperable (Pettorelli et al. 2017), particularly given the plethora of existing
local to regional scale data capture initiatives by airborne methods based on drones
or airplanes (Cord et al. 2017). Finally, RS proxies will often need to be combined
with field measurements to accurately represent the desired ecosystem function
(e.g., Tong et al. 2004). Indeed, joint analyses of satellite data with in-situ measurements or process measurements in the lab may be essential steps to the refinement
and increased capacity and utility of satellite-based indicators for ecosystem function monitoring (see also Meireles et al., Chap. 7, in this book). This is likely to be
a nontrivial task, particularly in highly dynamic situations.
17.3 Conservation
Global environmental change has led to major losses, changes, and erosion of biodiversity and ecosystem function and counteracted to some extent by conservation
action. Conservation science focuses on understanding the distribution of organisms, their rarity status, the viability of populations, drivers and disturbances, and
current and future restoration need. RS has been increasingly used to answer conservation science questions and applications (Rose et al. 2015), namely, species
mapping (see Chaps. 9, 10, and 11 in this book by Record et al.; Paz et al.; PintoLedezma), biodiversity monitoring (Feret and Asner 2014; Rocchini et al. 2017),
detecting invasive alien species (see Bolch et al., Chap. 12, in this book), assessing
vegetation condition, monitoring carbon storage and credits, and assessing habitat
extent and condition (see Record et al., Chap. 10, in this book), among others
(Bustamante et al. 2016; Lawley et al. 2016; Niphadkar and Nagendra 2016; Reddy
et al. 2017). Here, we focus on aspects of conservation related to the abovementioned measures of ecosystem function at large scales.
17.3.1 Biodiversity Monitoring
RS has long been recognized as useful for biodiversity measurement (Stoms and
Estes 1993; Turner et al. 2003; Turner 2014), and more recently it has emerged
prominently in biodiversity monitoring, through essential biodiversity variables
(Pereira et al. 2013; Skidmore et al. 2015; Pereira et al. 2015). Rose et al. (2015)
identified the top ten applications of RS in conservation, namely, for species distribution and abundance, movement and life stages, ecosystem processes, climate
change, rapid response, protected areas, ecosystem services, conservation effectiveness, changes in land use/cover, and degradation and disturbance regimes.
F. Schrodt et al.