Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)

Since the late 1800s, pinyon–juniper woodland across the western U.S. has increased in density and areal extent and encroached into former grassland areas. The San Carlos Apache Tribe wants to gain qualitative and quantitative information on the historical conditions of their tribal woodlands to use...

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Main Authors: Barry Middleton, Laura Norman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/4/393
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author Barry Middleton
Laura Norman
author_facet Barry Middleton
Laura Norman
author_sort Barry Middleton
collection DOAJ
description Since the late 1800s, pinyon–juniper woodland across the western U.S. has increased in density and areal extent and encroached into former grassland areas. The San Carlos Apache Tribe wants to gain qualitative and quantitative information on the historical conditions of their tribal woodlands to use as a baseline for restoration efforts. At the San Carlos Apache Reservation, in east-central Arizona, large swaths of woodlands containing varying mixtures of juniper (<i>Juniperus</i> spp.), pinyon (<i>Pinus</i> spp.) and evergreen oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp.) are culturally important to the Tribe and are a focus for restoration. To determine changes in canopy cover, we developed image analysis techniques to monitor tree and large shrub cover using 1935 and 2017 aerial imagery and compared results over the 82-year interval. Results showed a substantial increase in the canopy cover of the former savannas, and encroachment (mostly juniper) into the former grasslands of Big Prairie. The Tribe is currently engaged in converting juniper woodland back into an open savanna, more characteristic of assumed pre-reservation conditions for that area. Our analysis shows areas on Bee Flat that, under the Tribe’s active restoration efforts, have returned woodland canopy cover to levels roughly analogous to that measured in 1935.
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spelling doaj.art-a34cff66cc2b4af08cbe78fba7e488312023-11-21T14:48:03ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2021-04-0110439310.3390/land10040393Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)Barry Middleton0Laura Norman1Western Geographic Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 520 N. Park Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719, USAWestern Geographic Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 520 N. Park Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719, USASince the late 1800s, pinyon–juniper woodland across the western U.S. has increased in density and areal extent and encroached into former grassland areas. The San Carlos Apache Tribe wants to gain qualitative and quantitative information on the historical conditions of their tribal woodlands to use as a baseline for restoration efforts. At the San Carlos Apache Reservation, in east-central Arizona, large swaths of woodlands containing varying mixtures of juniper (<i>Juniperus</i> spp.), pinyon (<i>Pinus</i> spp.) and evergreen oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp.) are culturally important to the Tribe and are a focus for restoration. To determine changes in canopy cover, we developed image analysis techniques to monitor tree and large shrub cover using 1935 and 2017 aerial imagery and compared results over the 82-year interval. Results showed a substantial increase in the canopy cover of the former savannas, and encroachment (mostly juniper) into the former grasslands of Big Prairie. The Tribe is currently engaged in converting juniper woodland back into an open savanna, more characteristic of assumed pre-reservation conditions for that area. Our analysis shows areas on Bee Flat that, under the Tribe’s active restoration efforts, have returned woodland canopy cover to levels roughly analogous to that measured in 1935.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/4/393pinyon–juniper woodlandsavannagrassland encroachmentcanopy coveraerial photographyremote sensing
spellingShingle Barry Middleton
Laura Norman
Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)
Land
pinyon–juniper woodland
savanna
grassland encroachment
canopy cover
aerial photography
remote sensing
title Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)
title_full Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)
title_fullStr Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)
title_full_unstemmed Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)
title_short Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)
title_sort remote sensing analysis to quantify change in woodland canopy cover on the san carlos apache reservation arizona usa 1935 vs 2017
topic pinyon–juniper woodland
savanna
grassland encroachment
canopy cover
aerial photography
remote sensing
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/4/393
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