Boreal Nature Series: Satellite imagery and forest regeneration

Can satellite imagery be used to assess forest regeneration on seismic lines? 

Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 | 1:00pm - 12:00pm MST

Open to anyone interested in science and our boreal backyards (no need to be a researcher or industry professional)! As part of the Boreal Nature Series, this webinar features Angeline Van Dongen from Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service.

Seismic lines, which are narrow linear clearings used for hydrocarbon exploration, have accumulated throughout Alberta’s forest landscapes for decades, fragmenting wildlife habitat and altering predator-prey dynamics. These negative effects, combined with their inconsistent natural recovery, have incited the need for seismic line restoration programs and associated monitoring of forest recovery. Visual interpretation of satellite imagery may be an effective tool for assessing seismic line recovery at a landscape scale, due to its lower cost and ease of interpretation compared to more advanced remote sensing techniques. In this study, the accuracy of seismic line recovery assessments based on visual interpretations of satellite imagery was validated with field measurements of conventional seismic line transects in upland mixedwood forests classified as either Regenerated, Fractionally Regenerated, or Not Regenerated.

Angeline Van Dongen is a technician with Natural Resources Canada (Canadian Forest Service), based in Edmonton at the Northern Forestry Center where she works with the Land Reclamation and Ecosystem Restoration research team.

Please register for access to the webinar link. The link will be sent out via email to registered attendees prior to the event. This event is hosted by the NAIT Centre for Boreal Research.

We hope to see you online!

Questions? Please contact Rielle at riellem@nait.ca

Thank you to NSERC and our sponsors of ‘Partners in Boreal Education’ for supporting the Boreal Nature Series: Canadian Forest Products Ltd., Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd., West Fraser Manning Timber Co., Boucher Bros Lumber Ltd., Zavisha Sawmills Ltd., and FRIAA.