Quantifying canopy fractional cover and change in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, China using multi-temporal Landsat imagery

A study on Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, China, reveals that anthropogenic activities are the primary drivers of changes in forest canopy fractional cover (CFC) over a 15-year period. Researchers used multi-temporal Landsat imagery and a modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) to quantify CFC, finding that topographical variability affects illumination and thus CFC estimates. Implementing an illumination stratification approach, which selects different closed canopy endmembers based on topography, helps minimize these effects. The analysis, combined with limited high-resolution imagery verification, suggests that most observed CFC changes are likely due to human influences.

Tsai, Y. H., Stow, D., Shi, L., Lewison, R., & An, L. (2016). Quantifying canopy fractional cover and change in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, China using multi-temporal Landsat imagery. Remote Sensing Letters, 7(7), 671–680. https://doi.org/10.1080/2150704x.2016.1177243