The demand for comparable, long-term, high quality data on forest ecosystems' status and changes is increasing at the international and global level. Yet, sources for such data are limited and in many case it is not possible to compare data from different monitoring initiatives across space and time because of methodological differences. Apart from technical manuals, there is no comprehensive multidisciplinary, scientific, peer-reviewed reference for forest monitoring methods that can serve and support the user community. This book provides in a single reference the state-of-the-art of monitoring methods as applied at the international level.The book present scientific concepts and methods that form the basis of the transnational, long-term forest monitoring in Europe and looks at other initiatives at the global level. Standardized methods that have been developed over two decades in international forest monitoring projects are presented. Emphasis is put on trans-nationally harmonized methods, related data quality issues, current achievements and on remaining open questions. - A comprehensive overview of needs, requirements, organization and possible outcomes of an integrated monitoring program - Tested and quality assured, internationally harmonized methodologies based on a complete revision of existing methods carried out in 2009-2011 - Connection with monitoring results allows assessment of the potential of the monitoring method

Forests provide a large range of beneficial services, including tangible ones such as timber and recreation, and intangible services such as climate regulation, biodiversity, and watershed protection. On the other hand, forests can also be considered roadblocks to progress that occupy space more productively used for agriculture, making consideration of their regulating services crucial for balancing land use and forest loss. Monitoring forest cover and loss is critical for obtaining the data necessary to help define what is needed to maintain the varying forest service requirements in different parts of the world. There is an increasing need for timely and accurate forest change information, and consequently a greater interest in monitoring those changes. Global Forest Monitoring from Earth Observation covers the very recent developments undertaken for monitoring forest areas from global to national levels using Earth observation satellite data. It describes operational tools and systems for monitoring forest ecosystems, discussing why and how researchers currently use remotely sensed data to study forest cover and loss over large areas. The book introduces the role of forests in providing ecosystem services and the need for monitoring their change over time, followed by an overview of the use of earth observation data to support forest monitoring. It discusses general methodological differences, including wall-to-wall mapping and sampling approaches, as well as data availability. This book provides excellent coverage of the research and applications of forest monitoring, indicator mapping at coarse spatial resolution, sample-based assessments, and wall-to-wall mapping at medium spatial resolution using optical remote sensing datasets, such as MODIS and Landsat. It examines the use of radar imagery in forest monitoring and presents a number of operational systems, from Brazil’s PRODES and DETER products to Australia’s NCAS system. Written by leading global experts in the field, this book offers a launch point for future advances in satellite-based monitoring of global forest resources. It gives readers a deeper understanding of global forest monitoring methods and shows how state-of-the-art technologies may soon provide key data for creating more balanced policies.

The assessment and evaluation of tree condition and vitality is an essential part of the ICP Forests monitoring programme. Due to the complex structure of forest ecosystems, a number of different indicators of tree condition are adopted. In this chapter, they are described also in terms of their ecological relevance. Special emphasis is laid on biotic agents affecting forest ecosystems and explaining tree responses to stressors. For operational reasons, definitions and recommendations for the use of the indicators are given. Tree condition assessment in forest monitoring is closely linked to field measures of Quality Assurance and Control. Examples of results show that the methods currently used in tree condition monitoring are sensitive to detect the effects of climate change on forests and identifying main spatial and temporal patterns and damaging agents.

Among the elements of forest biodiversity, vegetation, including epiphytes, is the foundation of ecosystem functioning and primary production. Basic features for harmonized large-scale and intensive monitoring of vascular plants, cryptogams, and epiphytic lichens are presented. For the assessment of ground vegetation on the European scale, a minimum, single-scale approach (with a common sampling area of 400-m2) is suggested to produce sets of presence–absence and relative cover data. This common frame can accommodate national designs. For epiphytic lichens, sampling follows a standard procedure for tree selection after stratification by bark type. On each tree, four vertical grids of five 10×10cm contiguous quadrates are used to record the species occurrence. Monitoring parameters and timing of surveys, transformation of different abundance scales, and the need for continuously updated nomenclature are also discussed. Examples of transnational results (e.g., functional groups for both lichen and vascular plants and nitrogen deposition) are presented which demonstrate the importance and value of harmonized monitoring data.

There is ample evidence that current concentrations of tropospheric ozone (O3) cause negative effects on plants. The present chapter describes a systematic and statistical sound way of monitoring visible injury at the European intensive monitoring plots that may allow detecting spatial and temporal trends on a national or transnational scale. The extended database of monitoring data from different forest ecosystems in more than 15 European countries and covering the past 10 years provides a solid basis for O3 risk assessment. In combination with the current assessment of O3 visible injury on forest plants that are grown under natural field conditions, further, long-term studies of physiological measurements are needed to gain a better understanding of the complex interactions between plants and atmosphere, in particular, when considering climate change that may alter the risk of O3 for our forests.

Covering recent developments in satellite observation data undertaken for monitoring forest areas from global to national levels, this book highlights operational tools and systems for monitoring forest ecosystems. It also tackles the technical issues surrounding the ability to produce accurate and consistent estimates of forest area changes, which are needed to report greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use changes. Written by leading global experts in the field, this book offers a launch point for future advances in satellite-based monitoring of global forest resources. It gives readers a deeper understanding of monitoring methods and shows how state-of-art technologies may soon provide key data for creating more balanced policies.

The importance of translating the results of forest monitoring into useful commodities (i.e., data, information, knowledge, and wisdom) is discussed. The need for an effective communications strategy is stressed, following well-established reporting principles. Reporting may involve a range of communications specialists as well as those who collect the data, and scientists who analyze and interpret it. It is vital that the type of report is tailored to the needs of particular audiences, be they scientists or modelers, policy and/or decision makers. Monitoring platforms need to be increasingly aware of new opportunities for the data and information they generate. The internet is now enabling quicker and global reporting of monitoring outputs but also promoting two-way communication between user and consumer. A political movement to promote open access to all forms of monitoring data is gaining ground and some international and European regulations are already affecting the way forest monitoring outputs are placed in the public domain.