MONITORING WETLANDS ALONG THE ‘WESTERN-GREEK BIRD MIGRATION ROUTE’ Spatio-temporal change...

MONITORING WETLANDS ALONG THE ‘WESTERN-GREEK BIRD MIGRATION ROUTE’

Spatio-temporal change detection using remote sensing and GIS in Logarou Lagoon, Western Greece: a pilot study

Algemene Plantkunde en Natuurbeheer - Plant Biology and Nature Management

By Ruth LagringCurrently working for MUMM – Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical

Models

Promoter Prof. Nico KoedamCo-Promoter Ronny Merken

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 2

Population of long-distance

migratory birds is declining

worldwide

An important cause is the loss of

suitable stopover-sites during

migration

FACTS

[Berthold, 2001; Birdlife International; Marchant et al., 1990; Çagan et al., 2004; Sanderson et al., 2006; Robbins et al., 1989; Fletcher, 2003]

[Berthold, 2001; Çağan et al., 2004; Davidson et al., 1996; Malcolm et al., 2002]

Souce: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine

Stopover

‘Area with the needed resources and

environmental conditions that support temporary

occupancy by individuals of that species’ [Scott et al., 2002]

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 3

Winter

Breeding

[ http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine]

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 4

Winter

Breeding

International Conventions

[http://www.cms.int/about/interactive_map/cms_parties_europe.htm]

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 5

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union]

European Union Natura 2000

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 6

Wetlands

[ http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine]

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 7

Western-Greek Bird Migration Route

‘Flyway of birds following the western coast of the Greek

mainland during their migration’

IntroductionIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 8

Wetlands as stopover habitats

‘Areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh,

brackish or salt, including areas of marine waters, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.’ [Ramsar Convention, 1971]

Convention on Wetlands

of International

Importance,

especially as Waterfowl

Habitat

Logarou Lagoon, April 2007

2/3rd of the Greek wetland area has been drained (20th century)

Further degradation needs to be prevented

Hypothesis and objectivesIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Loss and/or deterioration of wetlands along the ‘Western-

Greek Migration Route’ can result in a critical lack of suitable

stopover sites for migrating birds

HYPOTHESIS

Obj. 1 Screening legal instruments and their implementation in the Greek legislation (literature study)

Obj. 2 Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’

p. 9

Obj. 1 Screening legal instruments and their implementation in the Greek legislation (liturature study, in parallel with Bazigou)

p. 10

Conclusions

Legislation to protect migrating birds and wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ is not sufficient and the one existing is not implemented [Bazigou, 2007].

No control to prevent ecological change from occuring in wetlands

Hypothesis and objectivesIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Obj. 2 Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’

1. Inventory (including small wetlands)

2. Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

Localisation

Protection or legal status (IBA, RAMSAR, Natura 2000,...) or other (including

‘none’)

Characteristics

Importance to migrating waterfowl

Types of ecological change that can be monitored

Technique for change detection in wetland area

Hypothesis and objectivesIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 11

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

The Mediterranean Initiative of the Ramsar Convention on

Wetlands

Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

1. Monitoring schedule (MedWet)

p. 12

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

1. Monitoring schedule (MedWet)

The Mediterranean Initiative of the Ramsar Convention on

Wetlands

p. 13

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Detection of changes in wetland area Spatial indicator: surface area of habitat

types Using remote sensing and GIS (satellite

images)

Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

2. Method: Spatio-temporal change detection

1. Hybrid Unsupervised-Supervised Classification (1977, 1989, 2000) [Tağil, 2007]

2. Post-classification comparison Data comparison

Matrix analyses (Raster GIS) (1977-1989, 1989-2000, 1977-

2000) [Haack, 2006]

Post-classification change detection using satellite images

p. 14

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Global Orthorectified Landsat Data Set (NASA)

Orthorectified and co-registered Landsat images

Landsat MSS (1970s), TM (1990s), ETM+ (ca 2000)

High spatial accuracy Freely available from GLCF

[http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.shtml]

Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

3. Material: Landsat imagery

Available since 1972 till 2003 = historical database

Medium resolution (30 – 80 m2) Scene size 185 x 185 km2

[http://glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/index.shtml] p. 15

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

[ University of Maryland, 2004]

1 (1972)2 (1975)3 (1978)

4 (1982)5 (1984)6 (failed)

7 (1999)

Landsat imagery Global Orthorectified Landsat Data Set

[Source: Tucker et al., 2004]

p. 16

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

Blue/Green/Near-InfraRed False colour composites Landsat ETM+ 2000-08-22

4. Pilot study: Study area: Logarou Lagoon

Amvrakikos GulfRamsar, IBA, Natura 2000

(National park)

Logarou Lagoon4900 ha

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p. 17

p. 18

1977

1. Hybrid Unsupervised-Supervised Classification

Selected classes

Classification schedule (MedWet-guide, field campaign,

aerial photos ‘45-’85, satellite imagery,Life Habitat map)

Aerial photo 85 Habitat map ‘85

MedWet-guide

Unsupervised Supervised

8 classes20 classes

Signature editingAsigning classes

(208)

Materials and methodsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

ResultsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

1977

1977 1989 2000

ResultsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Supervised classified images

2. Post-classification comparison

1   Water surface I

2  

Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal split

3   Aquatic Bed

4  

Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human construction

5   Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil)

6   Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.)

7   Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha spp.)

8   Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated

p. 19

ResultsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

1977

1989

1914.47, 38%

294.93, 6%

662.47, 13%

423.67, 8%

774.24, 15%

269.67, 5%

226.70, 4%

539.66, 11%

2000

2. Post-classification comparison

1   Water surface I

2  Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal

split

3   Aquatic Bed

4  Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human

construction

5   Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil)

6   Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.)

7   Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha spp.)

8   Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated

p. 20

p. 21

Matrix analyses: 1977-2000

ResultsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

1   Water surface I

2  Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal

split

3   Aquatic Bed

4  Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human

construction

5   Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil)

6   Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.)

7  Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha

spp.)

8   Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture Vegetated

Black = change

Logarou LagoonChange Detection Matrix 1977-

2000

2. Post-classification comparison

Class 1

1977 1989 2000

1225.24 (24%)

1563.58(30%)

1913.22(38%)

904.52 = 1320.47 =

275.03 Class 3 >

209.24 Class 3 >

284.90 Class 3 <

563.62 Class 3 <

1018.32 =

162.53 Class 3 >

838.32 Class 3 <

Class 3

1977 1989 2000

1229.10(24%)

948.14(19%)

662.35(13%)

584.09 = 335.38 =

584.90 Class 1 >

563.62 Class 1 >

275.03 Class 1 <

209.24 Class 1 <

345.69 =

838.32 Class 1 >

162.53 Class 1 <116.88 Class 2 <

ResultsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

1   Water surface I

2  Water surface II (shallow / swamp) / coastal

split

3   Aquatic Bed

4  Non-vegetated I (mud/sand)/ Human

construction

5   Non-vegetated II (Soil /Agriculture Soil)

6   Emergent I (Arthrocnemum spp.)

7  Emergent II (Phragmites australis, Typha

spp.)

8  Forested /scrub-shrub / Agriculture

Vegetated

p. 22

Dynamism of wetland system

Ecological change has been monitored

2. Post-classification comparison

Blue/Green/Near-InfraRed False colour

composite

Lake 1 The lake is full of rubbish.The panel states (in Greek) ‘Garbage

disposal is prohibited’

[Source: Nico Koedam, 19/04/2007]

Lake 3 The lake is full of dumped tyres [Source: Nico Koedam, 19/04/2007]

ResultsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 23

Inventory: small wetlands

ConclusionsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

p. 24

Obj. 1 Screening legal instruments and their implementation in the Greek legislation (liturature study, in parallel with Bazigou)

1. Legislation to protect migrating birds and wetlands along

the

‘Western-Greek Migration Route’ is not sufficient [Bazigou,

2007]. 2. The legislation existing is not implemented [Bazigou, 2007].

3. No control to prevent ecological change from occurring in

wetlands.

ConclusionsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

1. Inventory

2. Monitoring ecological change in wetlands

Localisation of all wetlands possible, including small wetlands

Technique for detecting change in wetland area has been

designed

Pilot study: change can be detected using this method

Cost- and labour-effective, reliable for its purpose and feasible

Obj. 2 Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek Migration Route’

p. 25

ConclusionsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusions

Future

Natura 2000 newsletter

Lack of political will [Bazigou, 2007]

The possibility to improve is there

Why is Greece not doing more?

THERE IS NO EXCUSE

p. 26

Future RecommendationsIntroduction

Hypothesis and objectivesMaterials and methods

ResultsConclusionsFuture

Further Screening wetlands along the ‘Western-Greek

Migration Route’, using the images of the Global

Orthorectified Landsat Data Set

Creating inventory Post-classification change detection More detailed ground truthing

Investigating biological impact of change

Other ecological changes of wetlands, e.g. pollution

p. 27

Thank you for your attention…

Sheep: “I’m afraid you’re in the wrong place. In winter,

swallows should be in Africa.“

Bird: “No, YOU are in the wrong place. I’m not a

swallow, I’m a penguin.“

p. 28