Forest Plant Diversity Assessment Based on Remote Sensing: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract This document presents a systematic literature review on the assessment of forest plant diversity using remote sensing techniques. Forest plant diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem stability and providing essential services. However, human activities pose significant threats to biodiversity, necessitating effective monitoring and conservation efforts. Forest biodiversity monitoring provides evidence-based data for conservation programs and decision-making. Traditional methods of biodiversity assessment have limitations in terms of cost, time, and spatial coverage. Remote sensing data, on the other hand, offers a flexible and cost-effective approach to monitor forest species diversity, explore diversity-productivity relationships, and identify biodiversity hotspots. This review paper highlights various approaches to assess forest plant diversity, with a focus on remote sensing techniques. The benefits and drawbacks of remote sensing in biodiversity assessment are discussed, along with the use of Earth Observation satellite images, LiDAR data, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for mapping vegetation biodiversity. The document presents case studies showcasing the monitoring of forest diversity parameters across different ecosystems using remote sensing. It analyzes the temporal trend of publications, publishers, and authors in this field, along with the spatial analysis of study regions. Furthermore, the review discusses challenges and limitations of remote sensing in forest plant diversity monitoring and identifies research areas for improving its accuracy. Overall, this systematic literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment of forest plant diversity based on remote sensing. It emphasizes the importance of remote sensing in conservation efforts, highlights the advancements in technology, and identifies future research directions to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of remote sensing approaches in biodiversity monitoring.