Assessing carbon sequestration of silvopastoral tropical landscapes using optical remote sensing and field measurements. Issue 5 (3rd September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schneider, Laura C.; Lerner, Amy M.; McGroddy, Megan; Rudel, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Journal of land use science. Volume 13:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 455
• Page End: 472
• Publication Date: 2018-09-03
• Subjects: Silvopastoral systems -- optical high-resolution data -- carbon -- ecosystem services; Land use -- Periodicals; 333.7313
• DOI: 10.1080/1747423X.2018.1542463
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-423X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This research assesses the potential of using high-resolution optical RS data and traditional field inventory to estimate carbon stocks in silvopastoral systems. We compare field data in the Macas region of the Ecuadorian Amazon with high-resolution RS data. Aboveground estimates of carbon were calculated using the field data. Tree cover was obtained through segmentation analysis of RS data. Results show 45% of the area in the study region is covered by trees and the rest is either pasture or areas cleared for new pastures. Field data shows a statistically significant positive correlation with percentage canopy cover estimated by segmentation analysis (R = 0.52), compared to a lower correlation with RS measures of NDVI (R = 0.11). In this study the amount of carbon stored in aboveground biomass ranges from 20 T/ha to 28 T/ha. The study shows how to estimate landscape variability in carbon storage, moving up in scale from ecological transects to farms.