Earth observation based multi-scale assessment of logging activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

The Congo rainforest, known for its high biodiversity and valuable resources, is the second largest area of rainforest in the world. Two thirds of the forest cover of the basin is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Despite the importance, deforestation continues recognizing a connection between forests, logging and conflict. Increasing demand for resources, population growth and environmental stresses including climate change, will likely compound these problems. At the same time, conflicts cause serious environmental impacts, which need to be addressed to protect health and livelihoods. The risk that armed groups become involved in timber and mineral trades, that revenues be misappropriated and that forest-dependent communities are being pushed off their land also presents considerable threats to the peacebuilding process. The present study investigates the applicability of a multi-scale approach combining pixel- and object-based images analysis methods for the assessment of different logging activities in the context of conflict in the DRC. Optical high and very high resolution satellite imagery from 2000 to 2014 are analyzed within three different districts characterizing specific logging activities. As a major result one can clearly distinguish these activities and link them to the specific situation in the respective region. In the case of Ituri district logging is directly related to the conflict situation and increasing population pressure. While the slash-and-burn activities in Tshopo seems to be stable and show only minor decrease of primary forest, industrial-scale logging in the Mongala district has degraded a significant amount of primary forest into secondary forest or bare soil.