Long-Term Ecological Monitoring at the Landscape Scale for Nature Conservation: The Example of Doñana Protected Area

Abstract

This chapter describes, as an example, the integration of a landscape scale approach based on remote sensing applications into the Long-Term Ecological Monitoring program of the Doñana protected area. I report the contribution of the landscape-scale monitoring by using remote sensing tools sensu lato, provided by its retrospective vision and multi-scale analysis capacity. The implemented protocols are set up as a multi-scale approach and are validated with a network of ground-truth field plots. The landscape scale monitoring program is being applied not only to habitats but also to species and to track natural and human-driven processes, mainly management actions. The approach is applied to monitor wetlands, terrestrial plant communities and geophysical processes. The chapter focuses on trends and shifts evidenced by the landscape scale approach that have been published or reported for decision making and conservation management planning. Some pros and cons are finally discussed in relation to data source availability, mission continuity and technical requirements.