Abstract:
A three-year project developed to map and monitor land cover of the
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. The project is divided into two components:
1) land cover/land use mapping and 2) the development of a web page to provide
project information and remote sensing data of Central America. Participants
include personnel from NASA, the Global Hydrology and Climate Center,
... National
Space Science and Technology Center, the University of Maine, Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, and the Central American Commission for Environment and Development
(CCAD). Additionally, there are representatives participating from each of the
seven Central American countries.
A principal objective of this project is to facilitate cooperative scientific
research, data exchange, and training between NASA and Central American
researchers.
Specific Project Objectives Include:
* Develop a region-wide JERS-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mosaic and
land cover/land use map to support scientific research along the Mesoamerican
Biological Corridor.
* Validate the land cover/land use map using ancillary GIS data and ground
data collected on test sites selected throughout the region.
* Develop landscape metrics to measure forest fragmentation and patch
dynamics for landscape characterization and biodiversity analysis within the
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
* Conduct training and capacity development for Mesoamerican scientists in
remote sensing/image processing, GIS/spatial analysis and ecological
monitoring.
* Develop a web page to provide project data, publications, and related
information.
(Source: NASA/GHCC/MSFC) 
