Landscape Biodiversity Characterization in Ecoregion 29 Using MODIS

Landscape Biodiversity Characterization in Ecoregion 29 Using MODIS

Nitin Kumar Tripathi, Aung Phey Khant
Copyright: © 2013 |Pages: 17
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-2038-4.ch050
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Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is a challenging task due to ever growing impact of global warming and climate change. The chapter discusses various aspects of biodiversity parameters that can be estimated using remote sensing data. Moderate resolution satellite (MODIS) data was used to demonstrate the biodiversity characterization of Ecoregion 29. Forest type map linked to density of the study area was also developed by MODIS data. The outcome states that remote sensing and geographic information systems can be used in combination to derive various parameters related to biodiversity surveillance at a regional scale.
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2. Study Area

Kayah-Kayin and Tenisserim ecoregion (Ecoregion 29) are the richest in species in mainland Southeast Asia, for this area is the cross road to exchange species among different geographic regions of Holartic, Oriental and Greater Sundas Island. On the other hand, this ecoregion forming a juncture of the Indo-Chinese, Indo-Burmese, and Malaysian floral and faunal elements. Formerly, it is divided into the Kayah-Karen Montane Rain Forests (ecoregion 51: Table 1) and the Tenasserim-South Thailand Semi-evergreen Rain Forests (ecoregion 53: Table 2). In the year 2000, World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) scientists team combined these two regions and defined as ecoregion (29). The flora and fauna in this region is distinct and includes several endemic species. Among the ecoregions of Indochina, this ecoregion contains some of the highest diversity of both bird and mammal species found in the Indo-Pacific region

Table 1.
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Ecoregion Name:Kayah-Karen Montane Rain Forests
Bioregion:Indochina
Major Habitat Type:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest
Ecoregion Number:51
Political Unit(s):Myanmar, Thailand
Ecoregion Size:119,200 km2
Biological Distinctiveness:Globally outstanding
Conservation Status:Relatively intact
Conservation Assessment:III

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