1

SIP Assessing the Spatial-temporal dynamics of

savanna ecosystem condition and services in and around the Kruger National Park (KNP),

South Africa

Moses Cho and Abel Ramoelo

2

The Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa

KNP covers nearly 2 million hectares of land

Wildlife tourism, grazing land for livestock production, provision of food

(e.g proteins, fruits, honey) and energy resources

Provision of Ecosystem Services

Frequent droughts, bush encroachment, overgrazing, rhino poaching

Threats to Kruger National Park ecosystem

Remote sensing of KNP ecosystem condition

and services

Energy and browsing resources

Grazing resources Ecotourism

- Woody cover - AGB biomass - Tree Height

- Grass quality (leaf N)

- Herbaceous biomass

- Bush encroachment - Land use/cover patterns - Phenology/drought patterns

Co

nd

itio

n o

f th

e

reso

urc

e

SER

VIC

E

6

Grass quality (leaf N distribution)

SAR and mapping of woody cover, biomass,

volume

Assess multi-frequency SAR in typically heterogeneous shrub and tree mix Combined L&C&X-band > L-band (ALOS PALSAR) > C-band (RADARSAT-2) > X-band (TerraSAR-X) SAR better predict woody volume > cover = biomass

X-band

R² = 0.32

RMSE = 10.88 t/ha

SEP = 59.82 %

C-band

R² = 0.60

RMSE = 7.81 t/ha

SEP = 43.66 %

R² = 0.78

RMSE = 6.05 t/ha

SEP = 32.90 %

L-band X+C+L-

band R² = 0.83

RMSE = 5.20 t/ha

SEP = 29.18 %

X+C+L-band

Observed woody cover (LiDAR)

Pre

dic

ted

wo

od

y co

ver

(SA

R)

8

Landscape phenology

9

Bush encroachment and tree cover loss

Utility of outputs by other stakeholders:

- Land use assessment, Bushbuckridge municipality

Thank you

Acknowledgement