Recent advances in remote sensing, GIS and computer technologies provided an opportunity to assess and monitor the land cover changes in a near real time basis. NOAA AVHRR satellite data with a spatial resolution of 1.1 km at nadir was found to be extremely useful for national-scale assessment and monitoring of major land cover types (Giri & Shrestha, 1996). AVHRR data was also found to be well suited for assessment of global-and continental-scale basis land cover and vegetation patterns (Goward, et al., 1987; Justice, et al., 1985; Loveland, et al., 1991). The data has also been used for tropical forest assessment (Evans, et al., 1992; Malingreau and Tucker, 1987).

UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP/EAP.AP) has initiated a macro-scale land cover assessment and monitoring of selected countries in the region. The assessment and monitoring of 9 countries namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan Thailand, and Vietnam has been completed. The main thrust of the project is to use a harmonised approach by using same data source and methodology to prepare a wall-to-wall map of ecologically important land cover types, monitor the changes and identify the driving forces responsible for changes.

This volume is a part of series of publications under the project and covers the case of Malaysia. A comprehensive description about the concept, rationale and methodology of the project has been presented in Volume I-A. Expert Consultation with the professionals from Forest Department, Malaysian Remote Sensing Center (MACRES) and ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM) was conducted to gain in-depth understanding on the nature and kind of land cover situation of Malaysia.