Change detection of canopy cover percentage using satellite data during 1972 to 2008 (case study: Mouteh Wild Life Refuge)

Using satellite data is considered as one of the influential tools in the field of rangeland science. In this study, satellite data were used in order to prepare the map of canopy cover percentage Mouteh wildlife refuge in Isfahan province during 1972 and 2007. Vegetation indices were produced using MSS sensors for 1972, TM for 1987, TM for 1998 and image of LISS III sensor for 2008. To make correlation between canopy cover percentage and satellite data, 290 plot data with appropriate distribution across the region were collected by stratified random sampling method. By using data and prepared vegetation indices, canopy cover percentage was estimated for previous years and corrections between field sampling and vegetation indices were estimated. With regard to data analysis, SAVI index had the highest correlation equal to 0.78 with canopy cover percentage. Therefore, using the produced model from SAVI index, the map of canopy cover percentage was produced in four classes for each year and the changes of canopy cover percentage were detected using post classification change detection method. Results showed that during 1972 to 2008 canopy cover percentage decreased in this period so that low canopy cover areas (0-10%) increased from 40162 to 95597 hectares along with a reduction of 10-20% in canopy cover percentage.