Use of Landsat TM for mapping of World Heritage Sites, Forest Biodiversity, and National Natura 2000 Assessment

The poster show two cases of Landsat TM based mapping of World Heritage Sites.
Bialowieza / Belovezhskaya primeval forest is the only larger fragment of natural deciduous and mixed forest in the European lowland. The forest has an outstanding biological value and is a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. The forest is considered to be the biological riches lowland forest in Europe. 2/3 of the forest is situated in Belarus and 1/3 in Poland. The initial Landsat based forest classification contain 45 classes where more than 12 classes that can be directly linked to old growth and appearance of dead-wood and e.g. woodpeckers. Biodiversity analysis is based upon richness filters of old growth. Biodiversity analysis and various types of data for daily management have been integrated into the GIS / forest compartments. The satellite derived methodology was developed in the Polish part from 1997-99 and extended to encompass the Belarusian part in 2003. The overall result will enhance cross-border management of the forest by the use of a common forest map. Furthermore, the forest base map is used for further research in modeling of habitats and has recently documented the habitat selection of Raven. In 2009, the Landsat based methodology to map old forest stands has been implemented on a national scale in Denmark - as a part of the GMES forest service element
In Lithuania, we used Landsat TM data and GIS techniques to estimate the extent of more than twenty Natura2000 habitat classes. National habitat specialists were involved in the classification procedures by visual interpretation of classes, digitalization of specific habitat areas, integration of existing field data and discussion on criteria's for habitat mapping that should be modeled in GIS. The analysis and simulation of habitat areas included the use of national vector layers on forest, water courses, bogs, land use, and Digital Elevation Models.
The assessment of e.g. Taiga was within few percent from what could be interpreted from national forest statistics, overall the result was used to identify potential new habitat areas and as such supported the assessment of actual extent.
A part of the Landsat based Natura2000 classification was the UNESCO World Heritage Site- Curonian Spit which was mapped into Natura 2000 sub classes.