Mapping Vegetation Morphology Types in Southern Africa Savanna Using MODIS Time-Series Metrics: A Case Study of Central Kalahari, Botswana

摘要: Savanna ecosystems are geographically extensive and both ecologically economically important; they therefore require monitoring over large spatial extents. There are, in particular, areas within southern Africa savanna that lack consistent geospatial data on vegetation morphological properties, which is a prerequisite for biodiversity conservation sustainable management of ecological resources. Given the challenges involved distinguishing mapping assemblages using remote sensing, objective this study was to develop morphology map largest protected area Africa, central Kalahari. Six classes were developed sample training/validation pixels selected each class by analyzing situ structural functional combination with existing ancillary coarse scale land cover products. The classification feature set consisted annual intra matrices derived from 14 years satellite-derived indices images, final achieved an ensemble tree based classifier. All mapped high accuracy overall 91.9%. Besides filling gap Kalahari area, expected serve as critical input studies focusing habitat use wildlife efficacy game fencing, well contributing ecosystem