CANOPY COVER ESTIMATION FROM SATELLITE DATA FOR ACACIA MANGIUM PLANTATION BASAY, NEGROS ORIENTAL

Abstract. Forest assessment and measurement can be costly, laborious and time-consuming when done manually. Remote Sensing aids by providing data of sufficient accuracy for large tracts of forest lands in the form of maps. These data can then assist in decision- making for better forest management. This study estimated canopy cover, a primary forest measurement parameter, using remotely- sensed data. Satellite images such as Planetscope and WorldView were used to estimate canopy cover. The results were then compared to measurements obtained from a manual inventory – in this case, of an Acacia mangium plantation. The manual inventory was conducted in a National Greening Program (NGP) site in Basay, Negros Oriental. Field inventory involved a Static Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) survey and a Total Station survey to get the accurate location of trees present in the plot. Diameter- at- breast was measured for all trees. Tree height and crown diameter were measured for at least 10 percent of all trees in the plot.