Data Model and Analysis for Spatial Assessment of Environmental Impact and Targeting of Agri-Environmental Schemes at Regional Scales

The report introduces the concepts and strategies for implementing spatial based methods for the assessment of actual environmental impact of Rural Development agri-environmental measures. The objective is to set directions for research work proposing an array of possibilities to identify, assess and to map the impact of the Rural Development schemes related to the Community environmental priorities in contribution to the EC defined evaluation indicators. Specific research results will be reported separately.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Correspondence of Satellite Measured Phenology to European Farmland Bird Distribution Patterns

This report presents research in establishing linkages between remotely sensed information of vegetation cover and biological diversity, specifically focusing on farmland birds. The vegetation cover was investigated via phenological indices derived from time series of satellite images. The quantification of phenological processes is very important for understanding ecosystems and ecological development. Such factors determine population growth and influence species-species interactions (competition, predation, reproduction) and species distribution. Birds have long been used to provide early warning of environmental problems, because they are the best known and documented major taxonomic group, especially in terms of the sizes and trends of populations and distributions. Common farmland birds are in decline throughout Europe, with the cumulative populations of all 33 species of farmland birds suffering a decline of 44 per cent between 1980 and 2005. For the link between vegetation dynamics and farmland birds distribution phenological indices and their spatial statistical characteristics were calculated from the time series of the SPOT Vegetation images. The farmland birds species data were selected from the European Bird Census Counsel (EBCC) Atlas of European breeding birds. Both datasets were then statistically analyzed using the Environmental Stratification of Europe. The study shows that this stratification is very appropriate to describe the spatial distribution of farmland birds. Furthermore it was shown that phenological indicators, especially the start of the growing season, the first greening up measures and the productivity measures are good indicators of the distribution of the European farmland birds and that these indicators are comparable to climatic measures. The importance of using phenological indicators is argued by the illustrated fact that phenological indicators can deliver information on the habitat on a higher spatial resolution that cannot be obtained through climatic data. This combination of information supplies indispensible measures to monitor those environmental changes that most probably lead to the reported dramatic decrease of the species.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Characterization of Pan-Mediterranean Riparian Areas by Remote Sensing Derived Phenological Indices

This report aimed at inventorying characteristics of Mediterranean riparian-use zones using statistical analysis of some phenological indices calculated from remote sensing time series. Riparian areas are focused because of their prime importance in offering potential for adapted agricultural landuse and their ecosystem services. The quantity of vegetation cover present in these wider riparian-use zones has been proven to be directly dependent to adjacent landuse and related to the functioning of the zone as wider riparian buffer. Phenological indices derived from low resolution remote sensing time series can be used in complement with other data to assess and monitor dynamics and stresses of the riparian-use zones.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Spatial Assessment of the Status of Riparian Zones and Related Effectiveness of Agri-Environmental Schemes in Andalusia, Spain

The report introduces the concepts and results of a case study on riparian zones in Andalusia, Spain with focus on the assessment of actual environmental impact of Rural Development Agri-Environmental Measures (AEMs) by implementing spatial data and remote sensing based methods. The objective of the research work is to propose an array of possibilities to identify, assess and to map the impact of the Rural Development schemes related to the Community environmental priorities in contribution to the EC defined evaluation indicators. The present study suggests widening the concept of riparian zones into a larger riparian area including immediate surrounding land. The riparian zones of the Guadalquivir river network have been mapped and analyzed by using three types of spatial data. Confirmation of the association of extensive agricultural land use with better riparian system status as monitored through remote sensing vegetation phenology indicators is a step forward to spatially address riparian-use zone management and targeting of Agri-Environmental and water protection measures. Furthermore the results indicate the possibility of assessing the effectiveness of AEMs on erosion control in olive areas in southern Spain.JRC.H.7 - Land management and natural hazard

Global Ecosystem Response Types Derived from the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index and FPAR3g Series

Observing trends in global ecosystem dynamics is an important first step, but attributing these trends to climate variability represents a further step in understanding Earth system changes. In the present study, we classified global Ecosystem Response Types (ERTs) based on common spatio-temporal patterns in time-series of Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and FPAR3g anomalies (1982–2011) by using an extended Principal Component Analysis. The ERTs represent region specific spatio-temporal patterns of ecosystems responding to drought or ecosystems with decreasing severity in drought events as well as ecosystems where drought was not a dominant factor in a 30-year period. Highest explanatory values in the SPEI12-FPAR3g anomalies and strongest SPEI12-FPAR3g correlations were seen in the ERTs of Australia and South America whereas lowest explanatory value and lowest correlations were observed in Asia and North America. These ERTs complement traditional pixel based methods by enabling the combined assessment of the location, timing, duration, frequency and severity of climatic and vegetation anomalies with the joint assessment of wetting and drying climatic conditions. The ERTs produced here thus have potential in supporting global change studies by mapping reference conditions of long term ecosystem changes.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen

Land-Productivity Dynamics in Europe Towards Valuation of Land Degradation in the EU

This document reported first results on the assessment and evaluation of land‐productivity dynamics and showed initial examples on the added value of integrating contextual information. Such information that is needed to derive final judgments related to the land degradation situation in contribution to the implementation of the RIO+20 target of a ‘land degradation neutral world’. We documented that, based on satellite time-series observations; the dynamics of the land-productivity can be mapped for the EU27. Using this basis information to analyze incidence with potential drivers of land degradation, such as unsustainable exploitation or e.g. soil erosion, to compile convergence of evidence allows interpreting the land‐productivity dynamics in the light of identifying and mapping on-going land degradation. This spatial evaluation also highlighted that, in the frame of the ‘neutral land degradation world’ discussion, area percentages of decline and increase In land-productivity cannot straightforwardly be counterbalanced as these areas can have totally different actual and optional Land uses as well as economic and cultural values.JRC.D.6-Knowledge for Sustainable Development and Food Securit

Potential von Fernerkundung und GIS als Landschaftstruktur und Biodiversität Indikatoren

The overall objective of the research was to evaluate the potential of remote sensing to (1) describe landscape structure regarding land use intensity and (2) to monitor species diversity. In particular, the human vision system, object based assessment, and image grey values were investigated in order to extract habitats from remote sensing images. Furthermore, the influence of spatial resolution of remote sensing images as land use and biodiversity indicators were studied. Three taxa sampled within the BioAssess project provided reference to assess the value of remote sensing: plants, birds and ground beetles. Sampling of species diversity was carried out in so called Land Use Units (LUUs) established along a land use gradient from old-growth forest to intensive agriculture. Percentage of forest one LUU contained was the indicator for land use intensity grade. Switzerland was defined as “super test site” where remote sensing data was acquired. This contained fused Landsat-IRS with 5m and Quickbird satellite with 2.8m and colour infrared orthophotos with 0.6m spatial resolution. Abundance and species richness of plants, birds and carabides together with presence-absence of Sorbus aucuparia (plants), Erithacus rubecula (birds) and Pterostichus melanarius (carabides) species were investigated. Canonical Correspondence Analysis of abundance data revealed little difference between visually interpreted and segmented patch indices within and between spatial resolutions. Carabides abundance was the best explained by patch indices followed by plants and birds abundance. However, grey value and elevation derivatives were stronger indicators of species abundance then patch indices. Furthermore, with increasing spatial resolution grey value derivatives associated stronger to the species data. Grey values explained in carabides abundance the most variation followed by plants and birds abundance. Species richness and presence-absence of observed plants, birds, and carabides species were related to visually interpreted patch indices and grey value derivatives of the Quickbird images. Poisson regression fitted the biological data well thus remote sensing indices proved to be appropriate for predicting species richness of the selected three taxa. Forest was the most important landscape patch index predictor. Regarding grey values, species richness of birds and carabides reacted on vegetation index while Poisson regression of plants extracted the focal summary filter of the red and the first principal component of all Quickbird channels. Logistic regression with patch indices and grey value derivatives performed similarly well for all the three species. Best logistic model was fitted on E. rubecula bird species. Both patch indices and grey value derivatives could discriminate between presence and absence in 94% of the cases. In case of S. aucuparia plant both patch indices and grey value derivatives could discriminate between presence and absence in 89% of the cases. For P. melanarius ground beetle, this was 86 and 83 % with patch indices and grey value derivatives, respectively. For all the three species area of forest was the most important landscape patch index. Interestingly, all the three species reacted on the same grey value derivatives, namely on the focal density and focal summary filters of the red Quickbird channel.Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist es aufzuzeigen welches Potential Fernerkundung hat um (1) Landschaftstruktur entlang eines Landnutzungsgradienten zu erkennen und (2) die Erfassung von Biodiversität zukünftig zu ermöglichen. Im Besonderen wurde das Potential des menschlichen Sehvermögens, der objektbasierten Bewertung und der Bildgrauwerte untersucht um Habitate mittels Fernerkundungsdaten abzugrenzen. Des weiteren wurde der Einfluß von unterschiedlichen räumlichen Auflösungen bei Landschaftsstruktur- und Biodiversitätsstudien untersucht. Drei Taxa, aufgenommen innerhalb des Projektes BioAssess, lieferten Referenzdaten um die Wertigkeit der Fernerkundung zu ermitteln: Pflanzen, Vögel und Bodenkäfer. Die Aufnahme der Artenvielfalt wurde in sechs so genannten Land Use Units (LUUs) entlang eines Landnutzungsgradienten von Bannwald bis zu intensiver Landwirtschaft durchgeführt. Der Anteil an Wald in einem LUU ist der Indikator für die Landnutzungsintensität. Die Schweiz wurde als super test site definiert und daher wurden hier Fernerkundungsdaten herangezogen. Diese waren fusionierte Landsat-IRS mit 5m und Quickbird Satellitenaufnahmen mit 2,8m Auflösung und Farbinfrarot Orthophotos mit 0,6m Auflösung. Abundanz und Artenreichtum von Pflanzen, Vögeln und Käfern zusammen mit Präsenz-Absenz von Sorbus aucuparia, Erithacus rubecula und Pterostichus melanarius Arten wurden untersucht. Canonical Correspondence Analysis der Abundanzdaten lieferte geringe Abweichungen zwischen visueller Interpretation und Segmentierung der Patch Indizes innerhalb einer und zwischen den drei räumlichen Auflösungen. Patch Indizes haben Abundanz von Käfern am besten abgebildet, gefolgt von Pflanzen und Vögel. Grauwerte und Ableitungen der Höhen erwiesen sich als die geeigneteren Indikatoren von Abundanz als Patch Indizes. Mit steigender räumlicher Auflösung stimmen die Grauwerte stärker mit den Daten der Arten überein. Grauwerte konnten die Abundanz bei Käfern mit der größten Varianz abbilden, gefolgt von Pflanzen und Vögel. Artenreichtum der beobachteten Pflanzen, Vögel und Käfer wurden zu visuell interpretierten Patch Indizes und Grauwerte von Quickbird Aufnahmen in Beziehung gesetzt. Poisson Regression lieferte eine gute und statistisch signifikante Übereinstimmung mit den biologischen Daten. Folglich konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass Fernerkundung eine zutreffende Methode ist, um Artenreichtum der drei ausgewählten Taxa vorherzusagen. Für alle drei Taxa stellte Wald den wichtigsten Patch Index dar. Artenreichtum von Vögeln und Käfern reagierte auf den Grauwert Vegetationsindex von Quickbird, während Pflanzen mit dem Focal Summary Filter des roten und den ersten Hauptkomponenten aller Quickbird Kanäle in Zusammenhang gebracht werden konnten. Logistische Regression mit Patch Indizes und Grauwerten leisteten ähnlich gute Modelparameter für alle drei Arten. Das beste logistische Modell konnte für die Vogelart E. rubecula zur Übereinstimmung gebracht werden. Sowohl Patch Indizes als auch Grauwerte konnten in vierundneunzig Prozent der Fälle zwischen Präsenz-Absenz unterscheiden. Im Falle der Pflanze S. aucuparia konnten Patch Indizes als auch die Grauwerte in neunundachtzig Prozent der Fälle in Präsenz-Absenz unterscheiden. Bei dem Bodenkäfer P. melanarius betrug dies sechsundachtzig Prozent bei Patch Indizes bzw. dreiundachtzig Prozent bei Grauwerten. Für alle drei Arten stellt das Waldgebiet den wichtigsten Patch Index dar. Interessanterweise reagierten alle drei Arten auf die gleichen Grauwerte, auf die Focal Density und Focal Summary Filters des roten Quickbirdkanales

Estimating the Ecological Status and Change of Riparian Zones in Andalusia Assessed by Multi-Temporal AVHRR Datasets

The present study focuses on the development of a classification tool for riparian-use zones and the effect of Agri-Environmental measures on these areas in Andalusia, Spain. According to the Water Framework Directive by 2015 all surface waters in the EU must reach a good status, part of which is defined as ecological status. Ecological status is reflected by several criteria, among others by hydromorphological quality elements like the structure and condition of the riparian zone. Riparian zones with totally or nearly totally undisturbed structures are given high ecological status. Agri-environmental measures (AEMs) within the Rural Development Programs of the EU aim to reduce impacts on the environment from agricultural activities. Recent studies in Andalusia and elsewhere suggest that extensive land use of surrounding landscapes correspond to better status of the riparian zone. Thus AEMs promoting extensification are expected to have a positive effect on the status of the riparian zone. This status can be approximated by the amount of vegetation permanently present. Healthy riparian vegetation (trees, bushes, hedges) but also undercover left on adjacent fields where extensive agricultural practices are used will contribute to this. The permanent vegetation fraction was calculated from time series of remotely sensed images and was used (1) to classify the riparian zone in Andalusia into favourable and unfavourable status using ground observations and (2) to assess the effect of AEMs on the riparian zone. The effect of AEMs in the classified riparian zone was assessed in olive land cover classes because erosion control in olive cultivation is the most widely implemented measure in Andalusia. Results suggest that the remotely sensed permanent vegetation fraction is a good approximation of the favourable and unfavourable riparian status. Furthermore, extensification of agricultural practices in olive cultivations expressed in terms of increasing permanent vegetation cover was shown to have positive effect on the riparian zone.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard