Science Term 2 - How Data is Collected and Used to Monitor Land Clearing and Deforestation

Ecology

The study of how living things interact with their environment.

Land Clearing

Destruction of the above-ground biomass of native vegetation replaced by non-local species or humans.

Deforestation

Intentional clearing of forested land resulting in the permanent loss of forest.

Permanence

A state where the forest does not regenerate after land clearing.

Loss (in context of deforestation)

Removal of trees and the ecosystem.

Conversion (in context of land clearing)

Transforming land into another purpose.

Biodiversity loss

Loss of habitat, which is the biggest threat to threatened species.

Climate change

Drives carbon emission and impacts ecosystems.

Soil and water decline

Increase in erosion and pollution due to land clearing practices.

Reasons for land clearing and deforestation

Agriculture, logging, urbanisation, mining, fuel (for firewood).

Monitoring biodiversity and landscape

Methods include field surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite images.

Aerial photographs

Images acquired from the air for surveying difficult-to-reach areas.

Satellite images

Captured data of Earth's surface from orbiting satellites using specialized cameras and sensors.

Field survey purpose

To help ecologists determine the distribution and abundance of species.

Quad (in ecological studies)

A square grid (4x4) used to measure within a square frame placed on an area studied.

Transect

Measurement taken along a straight line across a study area.