2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Global forest transitions: finding evidence for the forest transition theory and examining implications for SDG 15
| Project/Area Number |
20K13262
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| Research Institution | National Institute for Environmental Studies |
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Principal Investigator |
ESTOQUE RONALDC 国立研究開発法人国立環境研究所, 気候変動適応センター, 特別研究員 (60760139)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | forest transition / land change / forest cover change / SDG / sustainability / GIScience/Remote Sensing / Earth observation |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The following are some key achievements during the past year (FY 2020): (1) gathering of relevant remote sensing-derived forest cover data, as well as socioeconomic data; (2) review of the sustainability concept, highlighting the role of Earth observation technologies, such as remote sensing, for the monitoring of the SDG indicators, including those indicators related to forest cover under SDG 15 (for example, indicator 15.1.1); (3) in relation to forest cover classification and change monitoring, what was accomplished was a critical analysis of the potential limitations of canopy cover thresholding and categorical forest/non-forest maps, as well as the potential advantages of continuous data products such as tree canopy cover maps; and (4) spatiotemporal analysis of forest cover change (initial attempt in some countries in Southeast Asia). A full-scale analysis will be conducted this year (FY 2021). For (2) and (3), see Research Publications for details.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Despite the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (for example, adjusting to a new working style, cancellation of overseas travels for fieldwork, etc.), the research has progressed smoothly.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The plan for this year (FY 2021) is to continue the spatiotemporal analysis of forest cover change. After which, the results will be analyzed in relation to the three key questions this research aims to address. This FY, a part of this research (forest cover classification via canopy cover thresholding and forest cover change monitoring with the use of tree canopy cover maps) will be presented at the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2021. The initial key findings of the whole research are also planned to be presented at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting (New York, NY, USA, on February 25, 2022 - March 1, 2022) and at ForestSAT (Krakow, Poland, on September 12-16, 2022). Furthermore, depending on the progress of the analysis, a research article summarizing the key findings will also be prepared this FY. Otherwise, it will be prepared in the next FY. Originally, there was also a plan to travel abroad to meet and consult with some prominent researchers working in the fields of forest transition, land change science, and sustainability. However, depending on the future development of the COVID-19 pandemic, this plan may be cancelled, and such expert consultation may be made electronically (online) instead. There is also a plan to apply for a one-year extension for this research.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The research fund for this FY (2021) will be used as follows: (1) purchase of two licenses for TerrSet, a geospatial monitoring and modeling software; (2) publication and proofreading fees; and (3) purchase of a Note PC. There is also a plan to apply for a one-year extension for this research to continue the analysis and write papers for publications. The remaining research funds at the end of this FY (2021) will be used in the next FY (2022).
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[Journal Article] Remotely sensed tree canopy cover-based indicators for monitoring global sustainability and environmental initiatives2021
Author(s)
Ronald C. Estoque, Brian A. Johnson, Yan Gao, Rajarshi DasGupta, Makoto Ooba, Takuya Togawa, Yasuaki Hijioka, Yuji Murayama, Lilito D. Gavina, Rodel D. Lasco, Shogo Nakamura
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Journal Title
Environmental Research Letters
Volume: 16
Pages: 1-16
DOI
Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
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