Background

This is a demonstration project to validate the use of VEGETATION data for Forest Cover Assessment and Monitoring of selected countries in Southeast Asia. The proposal was selected during the 2^nd. Call for investigation of the VEGETATION preparatory programme. The VEGETATION Programme is developed jointly by France, the European Commission, Belgium, Italy and Sweden. The satellite component of the programme was launched successfully in March 1998 onboard SPOT 4 and will deliver measurements which were specifically tailored to monitor land surfaces' parameters with a frequency of about once a day on a global basis and a medium spatial resolution of one kilometre.

Goals/Objectives

The objective of the project is to evaluate the potential application of the VEGETATION data for performing a forest cover assessment and monitoring of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. The followings are the experimental objectives of the proposed research proposal.

1. Multi-temporal analysis of the VEGETATION data for the land cover assessment and monitoring of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand;
2. Develop methodological guidelines for VEGETATION data interpretation; and
3. Integrate VEGETATION data in the ongoing land cover assessment and monitoring project of UNEP/EAP.AP

The project work has been divided into two phases: Pre-launch phase and Post-launch phase.

Pre-launch phase has been completed. During the pre-launch phase activities such as acquisition of SPOT XS data; production of VEGETATION like data; field data collection; analysis of the SPOT XS data; and presentation of the results in Mol (Belgium) meeting were carried out. During the post-launch phase, testing of the adapted methodology developed during the pre-launch will be performed on the actual VEGETATION data.

Deliverables

The followings are the specific outputs provided to the VEGETATION group.

1. Digital and hardcopy maps produced;
2. Report on the forest cover map; and
3. Presentation of the results in html

http://www-projet.cst.cnes.fr:8050/vgtprep/abstract/aschbacher.html

Institutional Framework

The Regional Coordinator of UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific will coordinate the project. The project will be implemented together with national remote sensing agencies in riparian countries.

Time Frame

The implementation phase of the project is planned to take place over a period of twenty calender months starting August, 1998.

Geographic Scope

The project covers Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

For Further Information:
 

Mr. Surendra Shrestha Regional Coordinator	Tin Aung Moe
UNEP Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific Asian Institute of Technology P.O. Box 4, Klongluang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand Tel: (66-2) 524-6235, Fax: (66-2) 516-2125 Email: info@rrcap.unep.org , Home Page: www.rrcap.unep.org