Applicability of MODIS land cover and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) for the assessment of spatial and temporal changes in strength of vegetation in tropical rainforest region of Borneo
2020
Vijith, H. | Dodge-Wan, D.
Rainforests in the equatorial tropical regions are facing severe changes in strength and distribution due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Climate change causes major issues in vegetation characteristics whereas logging and developmental activities destruct the natural characteristics of terrain and vegetation. In the present research, MODIS vegetation cover type and vegetation indices (Enhanced Vegetation Index –EVI) data were interpreted to assess the decade (2008–2017) variation in vegetation types and strength characteristics in the Baram River Basin (BRB) in Borneo. International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) based classification identified ten land cover types in the BRB and the mean EVI in most periods varies between −0.30 and greater than 0.80. Results showed spatial and temporal variation in the area covered by individual land cover during the period of analysis and the fluctuation in mean EVI values indicates variation in strength characteristics of land cover types in the region. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation (r > 0.50) of mean EVI values between consecutive years of analysis. Though the IGBP classification scheme could not categorise the most dominant land use activities in the BRB i.e. logging and oil palm plantations, the findings of the present research validate the use of MODIS data in equatorial tropical rainforest regions for characterising the regional scale vegetation dynamics.
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