Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Forest Cover Changes in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Due to Military Factors

Abstract

ENG: This study presents a spatial-temporal analysis of changes in forest cover and forest shelter belts in Zaporizhzhia Oblast under the influence of military factors using Earth remote sensing (ERS) data and geographic information systems (GIS). The relevance of the research is determined by the increasing scale of forest ecosystem degradation resulting from combat operations, fires, explosive damage, soil cover disturbance, and changes in the natural resource use regime. The information base consisted of satellite images of medium and high spatial resolution, which enabled determination of forest area dynamics, localization of damage centers, and assessment of transformation intensity during different periods of military impact. Methods of multi-temporal analysis, index-based vegetation condition assessment (NDVI and derivatives), spatial modeling, and change mapping were applied. As a result, the main trends in reduction and fragmentation of forest areas were established, territories with the highest level of anthropogenic-military load were identified, and potential zones of further degradation risk were delineated. The obtained results can be used for developing forest ecosystem restoration measures, improving environmental monitoring systems, and making management decisions in the field of regional environmental security.

UKR: Просторово-часовий аналіз змін лісового покриву та лісозахисних смуг у Запорізькій області під впливом військових факторів з використанням даних дистанційного зондування Землі (ДЗЗ) та геоінформаційних систем (ГІС).