Abstract

In sustainable forest resource management, establishing forest conservation areas is important to maintain forest biodiversity. However, assessing the conservation value of forests is challenging because the target areas are often both large and remote. We explored using dense airborne laser scanning (ALS) data to estimate conser-vation values. Field data were collected at sites in Sweden for standing deadwood (S trees), laying deadwood (L trees), and trees considered particularly important for conserving biodiversity (N trees), and forest conservation values were determined using a commonly employed method in the field. A template matching method was then used to detect L, S and N trees from ALS data. L trees were identified from linear features in the point cloud above the ground, with a 52 % detection error rate. S and N trees were identified from unusually small or large crown diameters, with 71 % and 83 % error rates, respectively. We also tested the relationships between the three types of indicator tree, their summed values and the field inventory-assessed conservation values. Regressions between the assessed conservation values and ALS indicators were most robust comparing the three test sites when using the summed number of L, S, and N trees. A wall-to-wall map covering a 3 km x 4 km area was generated using Kernel density estimation of the summed number of ALS-derived indicators, to represent relative conservation values. The map was validated using 10 1-ha plots, and yielded an R2 value of 0.6 for predicted conservation values at the plot level. We conclude that ALS data can be used to map forest conservation values and inform decisions about which forests should be used for timber production and which should be set aside as conservation areas. The maps could also be used as a data source for habitat analysis.

Keywords

Conservation value; Biodiversity potential; Remote sensing; Airborne laser scanning; Deadwood; Connectivity

Published in

Ecological Indicators
2023, Volume: 147, article number: 109946

SLU Authors

• Huo, Langning

  • Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Strengbom, Joachim

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lundmark, Tomas

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lindberg, Eva

  • Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Remote Sensing
Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.109946

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121001