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- Satellite Monitoring of the Carpathian Primeval Forests (November 2024 – February 2025)
Satellite Monitoring of the Carpathian Primeval Forests (November 2024 – February 2025)
From November 2024 to February 2025, experts from the NGO "LIIS" monitored forest areas covering 17,646.9 hectares, which includes 1,434 forest territories of high conservation value. According to national legislation, old-growth forests include primeval, quasi-primeval, and natural forest areas granted conservation status.
For monitoring, experts used monthly composites from the least cloudy PlanetScope satellite images available in Planet Basemaps. A composite of 139 squares, obtained throughout the month, was used for the designated monitoring area. The average resolution of these images is 4.77 meters. It is important to note that images in Planet Basemaps are distributed in a grid of GeoTIFF files, referred to as "base map squares" or simply "squares." Each square has a size of 4096 x 4096 pixels. This composite is pre-processed for visual monitoring.
Since the monitoring was conducted through visual analysis with the precision allowed by satellite image resolution, selective low-intensity logging may not be detected.
Research Results:
November 2024
Figure 1. Composite of Planet Basemaps satellite images for November 2024 over the monitoring area of high-value forests in the Carpathians. Verified areas are marked in yellow, and those covered by shadows are marked in red.
In autumn, the sun is lower on the horizon compared to summer months. This results in a smaller angle of sunlight incidence, creating longer shadows on mountain slopes. Therefore, in November, 883 areas covering 10,202 hectares were inspected in the Ukrainian Carpathians, representing 61.57% of the designated monitoring areas. No forest cover disturbances were detected in the inspected areas.
December 2024
Figure 2. Composite of Planet Basemaps satellite images for December 2024 over the monitoring area of high-value forests in the Carpathians. Verified areas are marked in yellow, and those covered by shadows or snow are marked in red.
Due to mountain slope shadows and snow cover, 177 areas covering 2,102.7 hectares were inspected in the Ukrainian Carpathians in December, representing 12.34% of the designated monitoring areas. No forest cover disturbances were detected in the inspected areas.
January 2025
Figure 3. Composite of Planet Basemaps satellite images for January 2025 over the monitoring area of high-value forests in the Carpathians. Verified areas are marked in yellow, and those covered by shadows or snow are marked in red.
Due to mountain slope shadows, snow cover, and high cloudiness, 198 areas covering 2,463.7 hectares were inspected in the Ukrainian Carpathians in January, representing 13.8% of the designated monitoring areas. No forest cover disturbances were detected in the inspected areas.
February 2025
Figure 4. Composite of Planet Basemaps satellite images for February 2025 over the monitoring area of high-value forests in the Carpathians. Verified areas are marked in yellow, and those covered by shadows or snow are marked in red.
Due to mountain slope shadows and snow cover, 351 areas covering 4,190.3 hectares were inspected in the Ukrainian Carpathians in February, representing 24.47% of the designated monitoring areas. No forest cover disturbances were detected in the inspected areas.
To study previous reports on satellite monitoring of old growth forests changes, please refer to:
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for August 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for July 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for June 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for May 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for April 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for March 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for February 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for January 2024
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for December2023
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for June-November 2023
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for May 2023
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for April 2023
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for March 2023
Monitoring report old growth changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for January 2023
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for December 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for November 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for October 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for September 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for August 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for July 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for June 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for May 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for February-March 2022
Monitoring report of old growth forests changes in the Ukrainian Carpathians for January 2022