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Remote sensing of biodiversity: what to measure and monitor from space to species?

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Abstract

Global biodiversity monitoring systems through remote sensing can support consistent assessment, monitoring, modelling and reporting on biodiversity which are key activities intended for sustainable management. This work presents an overview of biodiversity monitoring components, i.e. biodiversity levels, essential biodiversity variables, biodiversity indicators, scale, biodiversity inventory, biodiversity models, habitat, ecosystem services, vegetation health and biogeochemical heterogeneity and discusses what remote sensing through Earth Observations has contributed to the study of biodiversity. The technological advancements in remote sensing have enabled information-rich data on biodiversity. Remote sensing data are making a strong contribution in providing unique information relevant to various biodiversity research and conservation applications. The extensive use of Earth observation data are not yet realized in biodiversity assessment, monitoring and conservation. The development of direct remote sensing approaches and the techniques for quantifying biodiversity at the community to species level is likely to be a great challenge for comprehensive earth observation-based monitoring strategy.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been carried out as part of a project on Biodiversity Characterization at Community level in India using Earth Observation Data. I gratefully acknowledge the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Space, Government of India for financial support to the project. I am thankful to Director, NRSC, Deputy Director, RSA, NRSC, and Group Head, Forestry and Ecology Group, NRSC, Hyderabad, for suggestions and encouragement.

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  1. Forest Biodiversity and Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Balanagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 037, India

    C. Sudhakar Reddy

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Correspondence to C. Sudhakar Reddy.

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Communicated by Neil Brummitt.

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Reddy, C.S. Remote sensing of biodiversity: what to measure and monitor from space to species?. Biodivers Conserv 30, 2617–2631 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02216-5

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