Discrimination between acute and chronic decline of Central European forests using map algebra of the growth condition and forest biomass fuzzy sets: A case study

The Science of the Total Environment
Pavel SamecMiloš Kučera

Abstract

Forest decline is either caused by damage or else by vulnerability due to unfavourable growth conditions or due to unnatural silvicultural systems. Here, we assess forest decline in the Czech Republic (Central Europe) using fuzzy functions, fuzzy sets and fuzzy rating of ecosystem properties over a 1×1km grid. The model was divided into fuzzy functions of the abiotic predictors of growth conditions (Fpredincluding temperature, precipitation, acid deposition, soil data and relative site insolation) and forest biomass receptors (Frecincluding remote sensing data, density and volume of aboveground biomass, and surface humus chemical data). Fuzzy functions were designed at the limits of unfavourable, undetermined or favourable effects on the forest ecosystem health status. Fuzzy sets were distinguished through similarity in a particular membership of the properties at the limits of the forest status margins. Fuzzy rating was obtained from the least difference of Fpred-Frec. Unfavourable Fpredwithin unfavourable Frecindicated chronic damage, favourable Fpredwithin unfavourable Frecindicated acute damage, and unfavourable Fpredwithin favourable Frecindicated vulnerability. The model in the 1×1km grid was validated through spatial int...Continue Reading

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