Remote Sensing for Early, Detailed, and Accurate Detection of Forest Disturbance and Decline for Protection of Biodiversity

Many ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain are currently faced with increasing disturbance frequency and intensity, concurrent with converging stress agents such as climate change, invasive species, and pollutant loads. Research has shown that the earlier decline can be detected, the more successful efforts will be in sustaining critical natural resources. While historically remote sensing (RS) has been successfully used to assess and monitor vegetation condition on a relative, coarse scale, advances in RS technologies and new modeling approaches now enable the identification and tracking of early and more subtle changes in vegetation condition, function, and structure. Here we review the current techniques used to assess and monitor forest ecosystem condition and disturbance and outline a general approach for earlier, more detailed, and accurate decline assessment. We also discuss the importance of engaging land managers, practitioners, and decision-makers in these efforts to ensure that the final products developed can be utilized by stakeholders to maximize the impact of these technologies moving forward.