Technology and Conservation

Technology and Conservation

The emergence and perfection of hyperspectral technology has tremendous potential for revolutionizing conservation efforts. Since its emergence in the 1990’s, researchers used the technology for a variety of purposes, ranging from updating maps to managing agricultural lands and exploring for minerals. The implications for conservation, however, is the ability for researchers to identify ecosystem function, evolution and change; identify threatened habitats of endangered species; indirect approximations of species richness and diversity; and calculations for carrying capacity, all with unprecedented efficiency. What once required tedious surveying and exploration by foot now requires aerial flights over the area of study.

What is hyperspectral imagery? In simplest terms, hyperspectral imagery is the detection of reflected electromagnetic energy from the earth. After an electromagnetic ray is transmitted and received, hyperspectral technology produces high resolution images created from the variety of wavelengths received. In the end, the technology produces an easily interpreted map of a specific target, ranging from a mineral to a specific plant species. Most recently, Earth Search Sciences Inc. patented their third generation technology, called the “OmniProbe.” A fraction of its original size, the OmniProbe is the size of a shoebox and can be easily attached to aircraft for research excursions.

With the perfection and evolution of hyperspectral technology is increased surveying abilities. Regarding conservation efforts and research, the technology can now reveal vertical canopy structure of a forest, percentage of land cover by vegetation, the productivity of primary producers (via Chlorophyll), information on ocean color and circulation, climate and rainfall data, percentage of soil moisture, phenology cycles (leaf turnover and flower/fruiting cycles), and the identification of target species. Pertaining to field research, the technology has been used to detect invasive species and identify and survey critical habitat for endangered animals from the Great Panda in China, to the Black Rhino in Kenya and the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda.

In Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, the emergence and spread of the invasive species “Leafy Spurge” has created habitat damage and loss to the park’s grasslands. To reverse the damage done by the spread of this noxious species, the park has sprayed infested areas with an herbicide or released flea beetles as a bio-control ally; flea beetles prey upon Leafy Spurge. With the help of hyperspectral technology and imagery, the park has identified and mapped the locations and extent of the infestations throughout the park. With a map in hand, park rangers and researchers now fight to eradicate the weed.

Across the globe in Africa and China, conservationists and the Worldwide Wildlife Fund fight to save token endangered species like the Great Panda, Black Rhino, and Mountain Gorilla. All three species are not only threatened by poachers, but reduction in critical habitat areas and limited ‘sanctuaries’ or places free from human harm. In Rwanda, the Center for Conservation Technology, a division of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, uses hyperspectral technology to understand habitat loss, ecosystem function, and extent of human encroachment to dictate field conservation and ecosystem management strategies. The extent that the new technology will alter and assist conservation strategies may influence the fate of the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda. Regarding the Black Rhino and Great Panda, hyperspectral technology could be used to locate suitable critical habitat areas for conservation purposes. If sanctuaries could be created for these animals from acquisitioned land, species abundances may once again rise.

Currently, population of Black Rhino in Kenya has dropped from over 20,000 in 1970 to approximately 450 individuals today. With the help of field research, critical habitat was identified and a small fenced and protected rhino sanctuary, called “Sweetwaters,” was created for the Black Rhino. Surveying the habitat by foot, researchers calculated the carrying capacity of the sanctuary, and 22 rhino were translocated to the area. In this scenario, hyperspectral technology could have potentially replaced the need for tedious field work to accelerate the establishment of the sanctuary.

Hyperspectral technology can largely replace tedious field surveying yet provided thorough data sets for calculating carrying capacities of study sites for target species. The implications are that it can expedite surveying processes and eliminate the need for extensive field research to assist park management strategy and decision-making. With the use of the innovative technology, the identification of critical habitat and data collection for carrying capacity calculations could occur to create and extend existing conservation areas.


Brandon Perkins
Content Coordinator
NGS/LA FEATURES-Special Projects
Phone (888)477-9241/Fax (323) 559-2256
www.linejumpertalent.com via www.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer
DIRECT E-MAIL: brandon@linejumpertalents.com

The Importance of the Greening of California

The majority of California lies within an ecological zone named the “California Floristic Province,” which is considered a Mediterranean ecosystem. Across the globe, Mediterranean ecosystems represent less than 3% of the land and are considered more threatened than rainforests. In California’s ecosystem, only 25% of original habitat currently remains, as the remainder has been altered by agricultural, industrial, and residential uses. Consequently, numerous endemic vegetative species have declined in population numbers.

Within the California Floristic Province, the Santa Susanna Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, and the Santa Monica Mountains collaboratively form a watershed that fuels the Los Angeles River that extends through the entirety of Los Angeles. Once upon a time, the 850 miles of the Los Angeles watershed fed a meandering river lined with vegetation. Trees thrived, scrubland grew, and birds and wildlife flourished along the Los Angeles River’s 51 mile length. However, with the onset of settlers and population growth, the unpredictable river and its changing path and periodic flooding instigated its concrete channelization in the 1930’s by the marine corps. The wild river became a glorified storm drain and lost its identity. As for the river’s watershed, today over 60 percent of its expanse is paved in concrete.

Across the globe, urbanization leaves a concrete footstep, and often the effects not only marginalize wildlife habitat, but interrupt nature’s water cycle. Considering the Los Angeles area, the paving of its watershed produced impermeable surfaces that inhibit nature’s normal cycle of water percolation into underground aquifers. Throughout history, such aquifers provided freshwater for various civilian uses, including drinking water. Before urbanization of the Los Angeles watershed, 80% of rainwater percolated into the ground to recharge aquifers. Today, eight percent of rainfall seeps into the ground. Most the remaining stormwater flows over concrete before being funneled into the Los Angeles River and ultimately into the Pacific Ocean. Freshwater is lost.

On the cusp of a statewide water shortage, various Los Angeles politicians, scientists and visionaries are striving to address the issue. In particular, one component is the greening of the Los Angeles River, known as the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan….

Brandon Perkins
Content Coordinator
Direct Phone line: (310) 427-2740
NGS/LA FEATURES-Special Projects
Phone (888)477-9241/Fax (323) 559-2256

Art and Orange County Great Park

Remember the original pin-hole camera? An enclosed box containing no trace of light, except a small ray that passed through a pin-sized hole on the front side, produced the world’s first photographic image. Manipulating the original photographic technology, a group of artists in September 2007 created the world’s largest photographic image by creating an unusually large pin-hole camera. How was this done? In the future site of the Orange County Great Park, a remnant hangar on a decommissioned air base became the camera, and an emulsion-treated enormous canvas became the film negative. The result was tremendous: the world’s largest photograph, certified by the Guiness Book of World Records. The gigantic image was of the decommissioned air base, essentially an oversized record of the ground zero of the Orange County Great Park. In essence, art began the documentation of the grandiose transformation of an air base into a revolutionary park of the 21st century.

Throughout history, passion drove artists to express their emotion, ability, and vision through various mediums. For the observer, art inspires awe, wonder, and evokes an array of emotion. In Orange County Great Park, art, and its appreciation, will continue to flourish. Beyond the wildlife and recreational opportunities that the Great Park will provide, artisans will have opportunities to showcase their work. In places such as the Exposition Center, which will contain a museum and cultural center, and the main amphitheatre, artists, musicians, and thespians will have a place to display and perform art.

Currently, the Legacy Project team that created the Great Picture have continued their photographic exploration of the base site. To date, the team has collected over 90,000 photographs of the property, documenting existing building art, graffiti, and the initial stage of the Great Park’s transformation. With plans to include areas to showcase local art, perhaps the metamorphosis of the park captured by the Legacy Project will become an artistic display for all to appreciate.


Brandon Perkins
Content Coordinator
Direct Phone line: (310) 427-2740
NGS/LA FEATURES-Special Projects
Phone (888)477-9241/Fax (323) 559-2256