New Vegetation Loss Map for Forests and Shrublands Revolutionizes Forestry Monitoring in Portugal

As part of the “Remote Sensing Data for Forest Management” project, the Vegetation Loss Map for Forests and Shrublands has been launched, an innovative new tool for continuous forest monitoring in Portugal. This cartographic product, developed by the Directorate-General for Territory (DGT) within the scope of the transForm Agenda, allows the identification and monitoring of vegetation losses in forest and shrubland areas with a bi-monthly update frequency.

The “Remote Sensing Data for Forest Management” project aims to modernize forest management in Portugal, using satellite technologies and Artificial Intelligence to continuously monitor vegetation cover. This project uses satellite images such as Sentinel-2, which provide detailed and updated data on the health and condition of forests, offering decision-makers crucial information for sustainable forest management and wildfire prevention.

The Vegetation Loss Map for Forests and Shrublands is a vector product composed of polygons with a minimum cartographic unit of 0.5 hectares. Each update, published in even months (February, April, June, etc.), shows the vegetation losses detected in the 12 months prior to the publication month, and the specific month in which each loss was observed by satellite is recorded in the product attributes. Vegetation losses are detected based on Sentinel-2 satellite images, using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which measures changes in vegetation “greenness” over time.

This map focuses on areas classified as forest and shrubland by the Land Cover Conjunctural Map (COSc) (classes 311 to 420) of the Land Cover Monitoring System (SMOS), providing a detailed and updated view of changes in vegetation cover in these areas. Unlike the COSc, which has a less frequent update schedule, the Vegetation Loss Map is produced more frequently, providing information that is not yet visible in traditional land cover cartography.

The Vegetation Loss Map for Forests and Shrublands does not identify the causes of vegetation losses, focusing solely on detecting these changes based on NDVI quantitative indicators. As an experimental product resulting from the project’s R&D activities, it is in ongoing development, which will lead to improvements and adjustments in its production methods and technical specifications.

Users can access the new service through the National Geographic Information System (SNIG), and those who need support for viewing the new map can consult the Support Guides available on the DGT Open Data page (https://www.dgterritorio.gov.pt/dados-abertos).

The launch of this map represents an added value for the forestry sector, particularly in the areas of wildfire prevention and combat, and the monitoring of forest stands. With data updated every two months, this tool allows responsible entities to quickly identify areas that have suffered vegetation losses, assisting in making more informed and timely decisions for forest protection.

Additionally, users are encouraged to provide feedback on the use of the map to smos@dgterritorio.pt, contributing to the continuous improvement of this service.