Disturbance analyses of forest cover dynamics using remote sensing and GIS

Study of forest cover disturbance and its driving forces is one of the most significant areas in global environmental change research. Natural factors affecting forest disturbances are among the most significant drivers transforming the earth. Due to this reason remote sensing technologies take an important place in such research Remote sensing and GIS techniques are widely used for forest cover monitoring under climate change and human impact but the lack of reliable information on forest use changes remains a major challenge of today. The purpose of this paper is a disturbance analysis of forest cover dynamics using remote sensing and GIS technologies. The research covers the changes in forest caused by different types of natural disturbance (forest fires, cutting, windfalls) and socio-economic factors (forestry reforms) in the Middle Volga region of the Russian Federation. This paper discusses the forest cover monitoring technique using satellite information and conducting assessments of forest cover disturbances that can be beneficial for the further research affecting changes over different time scales.