I want to assess the health level of forest cover and detect the most vulnerable sites for better management purposes. I am using machine learning tools and remote sensing imagery to detect, assign, and validate my results.
What I want to do is to design a multicriteria decision-making tool and include all health level parameters. Here is where a question pops up that what could be the most decisive and integrated factors that can question the health level of the forest. For example, I can use NDVI, Biomass, LAI, SAVI, and several other indexes. But if I want to sort the most important ones? which are the bests and why?
There may be many resources directly or indirectly connected to forest health. Keys to consider would be is the forest comprised of native species, well suited to the soils and sites. Is the forest composition a monoculture, or composed to a variety of native species and ages. Is the forest being managed consistent with the needs of the forest types, habitats and soil and water conditions. Are thinning, harvest, fire or other disturbances frequent enough to keep insects and disease in check, and keep fire or other hazards or risks at a responsible level. Are steep colluvial soils or other potentially unstable sites identified and management practices adjusted to limit landslides. Forest health is not going to look the same due to changes in soils, topographic position, species, age, density and to some degree the goals of land owner, agency, public desires for goods and services that forests provide. The US Forest Service has a variety of publications addressing various aspects of forest health. Each National Forest has a Land and Resource Management Plan that addresses forest health and sustainability among other uses and needs. Since there are over 150 National Forests, perhaps a few of these might be similar to conditions of your interest. The term forest health does not necessarily mean the same to everyone.
J. C. Tarafdar
Dear Dr.Tarafdar.
Thanks for sharing the documents. these are really helpful
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