Remote sensing of savanna vegetation changes in Eastern Zambia 1972-1989

The use of the historical Lamdsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) archive to m onitor changes in savanna vegetation between 1972 and 1989 in the South Lua ngwa National Park region, Eastern Zambia, was investigated. Land-cover typ es in the region were mapped and major changes in land cover from 1972 to 1 989 were detected from MSS data. Woody canopy cover, which provides a quant itative measure of woodland structure, was estimated for woodland vegetatio n from MSS data using a linear relationship between woody canopy cover and red reflectance. The canopy cover changes estimated from MSS data agreed wi th those measured from multitemporal aerial photographs (r=0.94). Woody canopy cover changed significantly in the region from 1972 to 1989 an d revealed strong spatial patterns of deforestation in Colophospermum mopan e woodland on alluvial soils and vegetation regrowth of valley miombo veget ation and riverine woodland. This information on the spatial patterns of ca nopy cover change from 1972 to 1989 suggests certain criteria that any caus ative process must satisfy, and it provides a baseline for the National Par k and Wildlife Services to manage the natural resources in the region. The canopy cover estimated from MSS data also provides an important input to bi ophysical and climatic process models for estimating the impact of vegetati on structure on vegetation and climate processes.