Mapping Land Use Change Impacts in the Philippines

🌍 The lack of appropriate tools for land analysis is a barrier to effective resource management.

📡 The first ever land cover update using satellite imagery was conducted in the Philippines in 1987, funded by the World Bank.

🌳 Forest cover in the Philippines decreased from 1987 to 2002, but there were discrepancies in the data due to different classification methods.

🌍 The video discusses the method of synchronizing clocks to link GPS time with the location of photos, allowing for accurate tracking of land use change.

🌳 Different land cover classes, including mossy forest, primary forest, secondary forest, and plantation forest, were identified through ground and aerial surveys.

🛰️ Sentinel data from the European Space Agency was used to update the land use information, with the help of the Cento agre protocol, which included drone and ground validation.

📊 Between 2005 and 2018, there were significant changes in land cover, including an increase in corn and rice production, a decrease in grasslands, and a stable forest cover.

🌳 While there was an overall gain in tree cover, there was a significant loss of natural forests, which were converted into secondary forests. Plantations for trees and pine also decreased.

🌿 The decrease in grasslands can be attributed to the improved classification methods that used a season of images instead of relying on a single image. Perennial crops such as pineapple and rubber saw an increase, while shrub lands and grasslands decreased.

🌳 The type of tree cover discussed in the video is dynamic and volatile, and not beneficial for the environment.

🌽 The cultivation of corn in certain areas is causing negative impacts on the soil and the farmers involved.

🗺️ Lessons learned include the importance of field data, different classification methods, open documentation, involvement of local stakeholders, and access to data and resources.

🌍 Monitoring land use change impacts on the land and its people is crucial.

📊 Using remote sensing and drone technology can help monitor land cover at large scales.

🌳 The destruction of old-growth forests due to road development highlights the importance of making informed decisions.

🌎 The process of land mapping has been institutionalized and opened up for access, but detailed classification requires more resources.

📊 Regular updates and monitoring of land use are crucial for effective land use policies and regulations.

👥 Local communities, including indigenous groups, are integrated into the land mapping process to ensure their knowledge and management practices are respected.

📚 The video discussed the importance of tracking land use change impacts on the land and its people.

🗺️ Dr. Jose Andres ignasio emphasized the challenges of mapping and accessing data related to land use change.

🌍 The talk highlighted the significance of incorporating local knowledge and community voices in understanding and addressing land use change.