4
Apart from statistics, we, the editors, had the common feeling that much work
had to be done in order to effectively transfer remote sensing technology, findings
and tools to managers in protected areas. This idea comes mainly from several
European meetings on habitat mapping under Natura 2000 and the implementation
of EU Habitats Directive. In one such workshop held in 2016, we proposed to the
delegates a survey on their awareness and usability of remote sensing applications.
The survey is still accessible and shown in the next section. One of the preliminary
findings was the urgent need for a real transference from scientific methods to
applicable tools for managers.
In Europe, one of the major challenges of nature conservation is related to the
need to provide updated spatial information on habitat status and sustaining longterm monitoring activities (Vanden Borre et al. 2011). The managers of protected
areas are aware of such needs and of the potential applications. However, they suddenly face difficult technical issues and background limitations to locally implement remote sensing or to interpret European-wide remote sensing products. So,
our main reason for this book was to raise awareness of very basic remote sensing
applications and to draw attention to its limitations; but also to highlight and convey
the opportunities. To some extent, the book is intended for conservation site managers rather than scientists or technicians. Obviously, we may fail to fulfill these aims,
but is up to you, the manager with the book in your hands, who has to decide this.
Book Structure
The book is composed of contributions by several authors. Most of these authors are
at the interface between managers in nature conservation and researchers. They
have largely contributed to spread the word of remote sensing applications to audiences of managers at international, national and local scales. Their chapters usually
provide guidelines to overcome the shortcomings in implementing a technique or
taking decisions according to method accuracy and easiness.
The book is therefore structured in four sections: A first introductory section on
habitat mapping and monitoring, focusing on the needs of ecologists and managers
and providing several adopted solutions. Following this, the second section provides a group of case studies focusing on detailed vegetation mapping, which can
provide a baseline for habitat and biodiversity mapping and monitoring; The third
section presents case studies that are devoted to remote sensing applications and
new technologies which are used to identify, map or track individual or groups of
species. We showcase several studies that have used remote sensing tools for faunal
surveys, nowadays clearly enhanced by the use of drones. The final section looks
ahead through very recent methods that are relevant to nature conservation and a
final chapter briefly summarizes the future tangible options to be transferred to
managers from the remote sensing community.
Thus, under the first section, Jeroen Vande Borre and colleagues introduce the
challenge of continuous habitat mapping by managers. This is a pending request by
R. Díaz-Delgado et al.
Apart from statistics, we, the editors, had the common feeling that much work
had to be done in order to effectively transfer remote sensing technology, findings
and tools to managers in protected areas. This idea comes mainly from several
European meetings on habitat mapping under Natura 2000 and the implementation
of EU Habitats Directive. In one such workshop held in 2016, we proposed to the
delegates a survey on their awareness and usability of remote sensing applications.
The survey is still accessible and shown in the next section. One of the preliminary
findings was the urgent need for a real transference from scientific methods to
applicable tools for managers.
In Europe, one of the major challenges of nature conservation is related to the
need to provide updated spatial information on habitat status and sustaining longterm monitoring activities (Vanden Borre et al. 2011). The managers of protected
areas are aware of such needs and of the potential applications. However, they suddenly face difficult technical issues and background limitations to locally implement remote sensing or to interpret European-wide remote sensing products. So,
our main reason for this book was to raise awareness of very basic remote sensing
applications and to draw attention to its limitations; but also to highlight and convey
the opportunities. To some extent, the book is intended for conservation site managers rather than scientists or technicians. Obviously, we may fail to fulfill these aims,
but is up to you, the manager with the book in your hands, who has to decide this.
Book Structure
The book is composed of contributions by several authors. Most of these authors are
at the interface between managers in nature conservation and researchers. They
have largely contributed to spread the word of remote sensing applications to audiences of managers at international, national and local scales. Their chapters usually
provide guidelines to overcome the shortcomings in implementing a technique or
taking decisions according to method accuracy and easiness.
The book is therefore structured in four sections: A first introductory section on
habitat mapping and monitoring, focusing on the needs of ecologists and managers
and providing several adopted solutions. Following this, the second section provides a group of case studies focusing on detailed vegetation mapping, which can
provide a baseline for habitat and biodiversity mapping and monitoring; The third
section presents case studies that are devoted to remote sensing applications and
new technologies which are used to identify, map or track individual or groups of
species. We showcase several studies that have used remote sensing tools for faunal
surveys, nowadays clearly enhanced by the use of drones. The final section looks
ahead through very recent methods that are relevant to nature conservation and a
final chapter briefly summarizes the future tangible options to be transferred to
managers from the remote sensing community.
Thus, under the first section, Jeroen Vande Borre and colleagues introduce the
challenge of continuous habitat mapping by managers. This is a pending request by
R. Díaz-Delgado et al.