A Spatiotemporal Survey of Tikjda Forest Dynamics Over A 34-Year Period by Aerial Photographs

Abstract Obtaining accurate forest cover information and dynamics of land occupation, through time, such as the spatial extent and pattern of disturbance and recovery is essential knowledge and assistance for forest managers and a crucial basis for the protection and conservation of current forest resources. Because most recent researches have focused on forest field survey and monitoring, a land classification containing information on forest cover dynamics is critically needed. Over the last decades, advances in remote sensing technology have enabled an accurate classification of different land covers from several sensors and remotely sensed data. We presently retained Tikjda forest (Djurdjura southerner, Algeria) as a case study to investigate the possibility of aerial photos classification and to analyze the historical dynamics of the area using a change detection analysis of multi-temporal data. To classify the study area’s main cover types, we used photographs collected over a period of 34 years (i.e., from 1983 to 2017). The results revealed that in 2017, Tikjda forest was composed of forest areas (24.1%), degraded areas (49.7%), and barren areas (26.2%). Throughout the investigated period, the analysis revealed a notable increase in barren areas (+9.8%), and degraded areas (+14.4%), While forest areas experienced a significant decrease (−24.2%). Moreover, the results confirm the potential of aerial photographs for an accurate classification of forests.