7.2 Case Study Forest Habitats: Vessertal, Germany
A detailed description of the study area Vessertal is found in Sect. 16.2. In Chap. 16,
climate change related sensitivity of forests in general and the Vessertal specifically
is also described. This section, therefore, provides only a summary of the main facts
of the region. With 88 % forest cover, the Biosphere Reserve Vessertal can be
characterised as a landscape almost completely covered by woodland. The main
tree types are spruce and beech. In terms of protected habitats Luzulo-Fagetum
beech forests (habitat code 9110) and Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests (habitat
code 9130) are of major importance (see Table 16.1).
As already mentioned above, only a long-term study can provide facts about the
immigration of beeches into spruce dominated areas as may be occurring in the
Vessertal region. However, the multi-temporal based short-term habitat quality
indicator presented here can be used to detect the actual status of tree species
compositions within the protected areas. Using this approach a detailed and accurate differentiation of tree species can be obtained. Knowledge about the current
status of the tree population is important information for decision makers, helping
them plan further management measures for conservation of the Natura 2000
habitat types.
7.2.1 Data and Methods
For this study a multi-temporal series of RapidEye data (Level 3A) for the study area
Biosphere Reserve Vessertal (Table 7.1) was obtained in 2011. Four images with the
acquisition dates 24-04-2011, 08-05-2011, 26-08-2011, and 23-10-2011 were available. The RapidEye mission represents a constellation of five satellites and provides
high spatial resolution multi-temporal imagery. Five optical bands cover a range of
400–850 nm, whereby the first three bands represent the visible spectral range
(400–685 nm). Band 4 covers the red-edge wavelength (690–730 nm), which is
very sensitive for vegetation chlorophyll, and band 5 covers the near-infrared
(760–850 nm). The spatial resolution is 6.5 m for level 1B data and resampled to
5 m for orthorectified level 3A data (Schuster et al. 2012).
Table 7.1 Percentage of the share of natural tree types as an example indicator for the determination of conservation status for Luzulo Fagetum beech forests and Asperulo Fagetum beech
forests (!90 % beech ¼ favourable; between 80 and 90 % beech ¼ unfavourable – inadequate;
below 80 % beech ¼ unfavourable – bad). The areas reported as Asperulo Fagetum beech forests
show a higher share of favourable conservation status than Luzulo Fagetum beech forests
Conservation status
Luzulo Fagetum (9110)
Asperulo Fagetum (9130)
Favourable
14.19 %
57.68 %
Unfavourable – inadequate
30.61 %
37.73 %
Unfavourable – bad
55.19 %
4.58 %
7 Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Potential Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats
97
A detailed description of the study area Vessertal is found in Sect. 16.2. In Chap. 16,
climate change related sensitivity of forests in general and the Vessertal specifically
is also described. This section, therefore, provides only a summary of the main facts
of the region. With 88 % forest cover, the Biosphere Reserve Vessertal can be
characterised as a landscape almost completely covered by woodland. The main
tree types are spruce and beech. In terms of protected habitats Luzulo-Fagetum
beech forests (habitat code 9110) and Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests (habitat
code 9130) are of major importance (see Table 16.1).
As already mentioned above, only a long-term study can provide facts about the
immigration of beeches into spruce dominated areas as may be occurring in the
Vessertal region. However, the multi-temporal based short-term habitat quality
indicator presented here can be used to detect the actual status of tree species
compositions within the protected areas. Using this approach a detailed and accurate differentiation of tree species can be obtained. Knowledge about the current
status of the tree population is important information for decision makers, helping
them plan further management measures for conservation of the Natura 2000
habitat types.
7.2.1 Data and Methods
For this study a multi-temporal series of RapidEye data (Level 3A) for the study area
Biosphere Reserve Vessertal (Table 7.1) was obtained in 2011. Four images with the
acquisition dates 24-04-2011, 08-05-2011, 26-08-2011, and 23-10-2011 were available. The RapidEye mission represents a constellation of five satellites and provides
high spatial resolution multi-temporal imagery. Five optical bands cover a range of
400–850 nm, whereby the first three bands represent the visible spectral range
(400–685 nm). Band 4 covers the red-edge wavelength (690–730 nm), which is
very sensitive for vegetation chlorophyll, and band 5 covers the near-infrared
(760–850 nm). The spatial resolution is 6.5 m for level 1B data and resampled to
5 m for orthorectified level 3A data (Schuster et al. 2012).
Table 7.1 Percentage of the share of natural tree types as an example indicator for the determination of conservation status for Luzulo Fagetum beech forests and Asperulo Fagetum beech
forests (!90 % beech ¼ favourable; between 80 and 90 % beech ¼ unfavourable – inadequate;
below 80 % beech ¼ unfavourable – bad). The areas reported as Asperulo Fagetum beech forests
show a higher share of favourable conservation status than Luzulo Fagetum beech forests
Conservation status
Luzulo Fagetum (9110)
Asperulo Fagetum (9130)
Favourable
14.19 %
57.68 %
Unfavourable – inadequate
30.61 %
37.73 %
Unfavourable – bad
55.19 %
4.58 %
7 Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Potential Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats
97