A Monitoring Method of Land Cover/Land Use Change in Naiman,
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China Using Landsat Data
Conclusion
Desertification in Naiman was characterized by the reactivation of fixed sand dunes. In this study, we developed a monitoring method of land cover/land use changes using Landsat data in order to analyze the progression of desertification.
Table 1 Verification of land cover land/use classification by maximum likelihood method
| |
Active dune |
Grassland |
Cropland |
Forest |
Wetland |
Village |
Water
body |
| Active dune |
96.87 |
1.25 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Grassland |
0.29 |
94.71 |
0.29 |
1.14 |
0.86 |
1.29 |
0 |
| Cropland |
0 |
2.82 |
94.86 |
0.91 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Forest |
0 |
4.51 |
0 |
80.56 |
12.85 |
1.04 |
0 |
| Wetland |
0 |
2.50 |
0 |
6.75 |
81.25 |
2.50 |
5.75 |
| Village |
0 |
0.54 |
0.18 |
2.06 |
8.04 |
86.03 |
0 |
| Water body |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.61 |
2.74 |
0 |
95.43 |
At first, we examined a monitoring method of land cover changes by using 3 indices; natural vegetation, structures, and soil redness. These indices were very useful to analyze the conditions and trends of desertification. We confirmed that no significant changes in areal extent pf desertification occurred in the model district. Land management around major settlements, roads, railway lines, etc ., was relatively meticulous and desert land was being re claimed. Conversely, in outlying regions new desert land appeared. As described above, we were able to analyze the conditions and trends of desertification by this method. However, we could not determine the changes in desertified areas by applying only this method.
Next, we developed a monitoring method of land cover/land use change based on supervised classification. This method which requires data at 2 different times in the same year, should enable to analyze the changes of land cover/land use in each pixel. In the present study we indicated the possibility of application of this method. And in the near future, we expect to be able to collect data.
Acknowledgement
The authors express many thanks to Prof. Liu Xin Min and Prof. Zao Halin, Institute of Desert Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for many helpful suggestions and their help in our field works. Landsat data were owned by the United States Government and supplied by EOSAT/NASDA.
Reference
-
Zhu, Z. et al (1992): China : Desertification mapping and desert reclamation Form "World atlas of desertification" UNEP, 46-49
