Characterizing tropical forest regeneration in Cameroon using NOAA AVHRR data

To facilitate estimation of the carbon sink associated with tropical forest s in Cameroon, regenerating and mature forests were mapped using an unsuper vised classification of AVHRR channels 1, 2 and 3. Stages of regeneration w ere defined using nonlinear relationships between AVHRR channel 3 radiance and basal area. estimated using data collected from 183 plots (1 ha in size ) in an area south-east of the capital, Yaounde. The overall extent and pat terns of regenerating forest were comparable to those generated in previous studies. Older stages of regeneration could not, however, be discriminated adequately from mature forest, suggesting that areas of tropical forest di sturbance may be underestimated when mapped using AVHRR data.