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Changes in forest cover composition of Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst. stands and their consequences, South Kordofan, Sudan

Mohamed Adam Khamis Mohamed, El Nour El Siddig, Ayoub Khalil, Elmar Csaplovics

Abstract


Forest cover change of Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst. stands in South Kordofan State was assessed using remote sensing imagery of Landsat MSS (Multispectral Scanner), TM (Thematic Mapper) and ASTER (Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) level-1B. Cluster random sampling along the accessible sites was carried out. Both unsupervised and supervised classifications for each image separately were carried out. Then post-classification comparison approach was used. The resulting classified images were comprised of evergreen forest, deciduous forest, barren land, Boswellia species including Combretum sp., Acacia sp. and shrubs and grass. Best classification results were obtained with Principal Component Analysis. The final results were presented in the form of change maps and matrices. There was a change in the areas of all classes with significant decrease in Boswellia class and dramatic increase in the classes of bare land, plantation, Combretum, shrubs and grass. The direction of change is towards Acacia wood land. Forest cover change can be assessed with high accuracy using multi-temporal remotely-sensed data and field sampling. Post-classification comparison approach seems to be efficient, although its high accuracy relied partially on image dates, accurate ground control points and analyst knowledge of the geographical region. 


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