ThEO

Biodiversity

Marcel Schwieder and Katja Oehmichen

LV Institute of Rural Studies

BW Institute of Farm Economics BD Institute of Biodiversity WO Institute of Forest Ecosystems

The type and intensity of use influences the ecosystem functions of agricultural landscapes and forests. Remote sensing data can be used to show the condition and stress of ecosystems over a wide area.

dry grassland on Weper mountain range near Fredelsloh

The biological diversity of a landscape section can be mapped against the background of the limited spatial resolution of freely available, area-wide satellite data on habitat diversity. Landscape and land use related indicators from remote sensing data can be used to describe the condition and stress of agricultural landscapes and forests.

Remote sensing-based approaches based on the data of the Copernicus program make it possible to observe and analyse these indicators nationwide in a fixed recurring temporal rhythm. This enables us to identify trends, on the basis of which we develop options for action and funding instruments for policy.

Our research questions

How is biodiversity or landscape and land use diversity developing in open agricultural landscapes under the influence of land use and agricultural structure change?

How are forest condition and structure developing in Germany under the influence of forest conversion, regeneration, afforestation and climate change?

Projects

Monitoring biological diversity in agricultural landscapes with remote sensing

A long-term monitoring of biological diversity at national level requires a representative data basis about the state and development of agricultural landscape. To achieve this, the project MonViFE develops spatially explicit indicators of landscape structure and land-use intensity.

National Scale Tree Species Mapping for Germany

The project aims at generating wall-to-wall tree species distribution maps for the area of Germany by using National Forest Inventory data within remote sensing analysis.

Monitoring of climate-impacting measures in crop and grassland management with satellite data

With 66.4 million tons of CO2 equivalents, agriculture was responsible for 9 % of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany in 2020. Adaptations in farm management can reduce these emissions. Area-wide data on such adaptation measures will be derived from high-resolution satellite data.

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