The use of vegetation indices and change detection techniques as a tool for monitoring ecosystem and biodiversity integrity

The use of satellite data has been widely applied to provide a cost-effective mean to analyse land cover changes over large geographic regions. The aim of this study was the multi-temporal change analysis of vegetation over the last 30 years, using freely available remote sensing data in three steps in Ilia Prefecture, Greece. In the first step, four vegetation indices were adopted to analyse the dynamic change of vegetation. At the second step, the investigation of the vegetation density changes was succeeded through thematic change detection techniques, and lastly, at the third step, a comprehensive change detection method (CCDM) was applied for mapping biomass progress/regress. Finally, after the catastrophic mega-fire of 2007 in Ilia, a change analysis of four vegetation indices focused on this affected region was implemented to investigate the vegetation restoration. Although some spatial changes of vegetation cover were observed during the study period, the state of biomass either improved or remain...