Assessment of vegetation cover in the El-Kouf National Park, Libya, using remote sensing and GIS technologies (2015-2023) تقييم الغطاء النباتي في محمية الكوف، ليبيا باستخدام تقنيات الاستشعار عن بعد ونظم المعلومات الجغرافية 2015 - 2023

Abstract

This study aims to assess the current status of vegetation cover in the El-Kouf National Park and to identify the changes that occurred between 2015 and 2023. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies were employed, utilising Landsat 8 imagery and the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) through QGIS software, to detect vegetation cover changes over an area estimated at approximately 5,000 hectares of the park. The NDVI analysis showed a reduction from 0.7043 in 2015 to 0.6318 in 2023. The study area was classified into three categories: low-density vegetation, medium-density vegetation, and high-density vegetation. The analysis of the results for the studied years indicated a decrease in areas classified as low-density and medium-density vegetation, with a change rate of -18.5% and -2.34%, respectively, while areas classified as high-density vegetation increased by 14.99%. The study findings indicate changes in the density, extent, and distribution of vegetation cover in the study area. Violations and encroachments on the vegetation cover were recorded, including illegal logging and charcoal production.

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