Use of remote sensing technology for forest mapping

The main objective of this paper is to present preliminary research results of the long-term vegetation cover changes at the Apasko polje in the northeastern Slovenia. The research was based on the analyses of the historical maps and extensive application of satellite remote sensing. On the basis of old archive documents, such as military maps and cadastral maps the distribution of a variety of vegetation types was statistically and spatially analyzed. These results were compared to the present situation by applying a variety of remote sensing techniques and terrestrial observations. The results of the analyses provided a detail insight in the changes of the land use and vegetation cover of Apasko polje. The last remaining indigenous parts of the flooded forest disappeared some 200 years ago, otherwise, since then only minor changes in the land cover are documented.