Time-Related Deforestation and Drought Development in Namibia in Brazil - Comparative Remote Sensing Analysis of Two Pilot Regions

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate vegetation depletion in two distinct regions, the Brazilian Amazon and Northern Namibia grassland, using remote sensing data and several vegetation indices. The study utilized Sentinel-2 data with 10m spatial resolution and Qgis was used to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), Albedo-NDVI and Carbon Delivery Ratio (CDR). The results from all the indices showed a negative trend towards vegetation depletion in both regions, indicating a decline in vegetation health and productivity. This suggests that the regions may be facing environmental challenges that require immediate attention to prevent further degradation of the vegetation cover. The Carbon Delivery Ratio (CDR) was used as a metric to evaluate the effectiveness of carbon sequestration efforts in the two countries. The results showed a decline in CDR for both countries, indicating a potential decrease in the effectiveness of carbon sequestration efforts in the region. This highlights the importance of continued efforts to improve carbon sequestration practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. However, the study would have benefited from the inclusion of ground truth data, such as perception data from both countries, and the use of additional vegetation indices to provide a more comprehensive assessment of vegetation health. This could further enhance the accuracy of the results and provide more insights into the underlying factors contributing to vegetation depletion in these regions. Overall, this study demonstrates the usefulness of remote sensing and vegetation indices in monitoring changes in vegetation over time. The results can inform decision-making processes related to environmental conservation and management in these regions and serve as a starting point for further research and analysis.