Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-14-2011
Abstract
The use of remote sensing for environmental policy development is now quite common and well-documented, as images from remote sensing platforms are often used to focus attention on emerging environmental issues and spur debate on potential policy solutions. However, its use in policy implementation and evaluation has not been examined in much detail. Here we examine the use of remote sensing to support the implementation and enforcement of policies regarding the conservation of forests and wetlands in the USA. Specifically, we focus on the “Roadless Rule” and “Travel Management Rules” as enforced by the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service on national forests, and the “No Net Loss” policy and Clean Water Act for wetlands on public and private lands, as enforced by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers. We discuss several national and regional examples of how remote sensing for forest and wetland conservation has been effectively integrated with policy decisions, along with barriers to further integration. Some of these barriers are financial and technical (such as the lack of data at scales appropriate to policy enforcement), while others are political.
Publication Title
Remote Sensing
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mayer, A. L.,
&
Lopez, R. D.
(2011).
Use of remote sensing to support forest and wetlands policies in the USA.
Remote Sensing,
3(6), 1211-1233.
http://doi.org/10.3390/rs3061211
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/forestry-fp/26
Version
Publisher's PDF
Included in
Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Forest Sciences Commons
Publisher's Statement
© 2011 by the author(s). Article deposited here in compliance with publisher policy. Publisher’s version of record: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/rs3061211