This approach enables detailed monitoring of habitat quality related to the tree
species compositions. In terms of Natura 2000 in Germany, objective mapping
guidelines with defined rules are available to determine the conservation status of a
forest habitat (Burkhardt et al. 2004). These parameters define the status of a specific
Natura 2000 site (e.g. favourable, unfavourable – inadequate, or unfavourable – bad).
One indicator, suitable for remote sensing applications, is the percentage of natural
forest types in terms of the abundance of specific species (Fo ¨rster and Kleinschmit
2008). For this indicator, the tree species composition per polygon was calculated.
7.2.2 Results
The classification of the RapidEye images provides a detailed distribution of the
tree species in the Biosphere Reserve Vessertal (Fig. 7.1). Spruce covers approximately 62 %, beech 30 %, and open landscape 8 % of the study site. The overall
accuracy of the result is 88 %, so it was accepted as accurate enough to derive the
indicator “percentage of natural forest types” for the Natura 2000 conservation
status. The results of the percentage of tree species within the boundaries of the
field-based delineated habitat types are depicted in Fig. 7.2.
Fig. 7.2 Map of the percentage of natural tree types as an example indicator for the determination
of conservation status (!90 % beech ¼ favourable; !80 % ¼ between 80 and 90 % beech ¼
unfavourable – inadequate; below 80 % beech ¼ unfavourable – bad)
7 Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Potential Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats
99
species compositions. In terms of Natura 2000 in Germany, objective mapping
guidelines with defined rules are available to determine the conservation status of a
forest habitat (Burkhardt et al. 2004). These parameters define the status of a specific
Natura 2000 site (e.g. favourable, unfavourable – inadequate, or unfavourable – bad).
One indicator, suitable for remote sensing applications, is the percentage of natural
forest types in terms of the abundance of specific species (Fo ¨rster and Kleinschmit
2008). For this indicator, the tree species composition per polygon was calculated.
7.2.2 Results
The classification of the RapidEye images provides a detailed distribution of the
tree species in the Biosphere Reserve Vessertal (Fig. 7.1). Spruce covers approximately 62 %, beech 30 %, and open landscape 8 % of the study site. The overall
accuracy of the result is 88 %, so it was accepted as accurate enough to derive the
indicator “percentage of natural forest types” for the Natura 2000 conservation
status. The results of the percentage of tree species within the boundaries of the
field-based delineated habitat types are depicted in Fig. 7.2.
Fig. 7.2 Map of the percentage of natural tree types as an example indicator for the determination
of conservation status (!90 % beech ¼ favourable; !80 % ¼ between 80 and 90 % beech ¼
unfavourable – inadequate; below 80 % beech ¼ unfavourable – bad)
7 Remote Sensing-Based Monitoring of Potential Climate-Induced Impacts on Habitats
99