Coarse spatial resolution, high temporal frequency satellite data from the NOAA/AVHRR system are presented to demonstrate their utility for monitoring vegetation seasonal dynamics. The techniques for processing and analysing the data are outlined and examples are given for selected applications at a range of scales. Normalized difference vegetation index images are presented for the entire globe and for the continents of Africa, South America and south-east Asia, with descriptions of the seasonal dynamics of major vegetation formations as portrayed by the transformed AVHRR data. Monitoring of forest clearance in Brazil, the productivity of African grasslands, Indian tropical forest and Chinese agriculture are selected for discussion. The paper concludes that coarse-resolution satellite data provide a valuable tool for vegetation mapping and monitoring at regional and global scales.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01431168508948281

Analysis of the phenology of global vegetation using meteorological satellite data

Many people have contributed material or suggestions which were used in preparation of this report. Among these contributors are Prof. A. Others, whose work has been of great importance, are listed in the bibliography. Mr. Charles S. Papp expertly prepared the Maps. The report is the fourth progresa report in a continuing effort to devise a satisfactory classification of the world's biotic areas for purposes of conservation. The following paper represente a marked departure from the first three. In terminology, Biogeographical Réalm is used in place of the Biogeo~ graphical Regions and Subregions of the early papers; Biogeographic Province replaces Biotic Province. The reasons for these changes are presented by Professor Udvardy in the report and appear sufficient to warrant this revision. Further changes of a major nature occur in the division of the.world's terrestrial and freshwater lake biota into 8 realms in place of the earlier 7 biogeographical regions. Oceanía is given realm status, the Antarctic is extended to include New Zealand, the Australian contracted to Australia-Tasmania and coastal islands, the Palaearctic and Nearctic are extended southward. New names, Africo-tropical and Indomalayan, replace Ethiopian and Oriental. A major revision of the earlier biotic provinces of the Neotropics and Palaearctic is presented along with more minor changes in the other realms. · All of these changes appear, in this writer's view, to improve the system and increase its accuracy. It must be emphasized,.however, that Professor Udvardy does not pretend to have presented any final answer to the problem of biogeographical classification. The procesa must continue and can best be advanced by those with detailed knowledge of local floras and faunas. Their assistance in this continuing study will be most welcome. (1) The Nearctic Realm. .

https://www.fnad.org/Documentos/A%20Classification%20of%20the%20Biogeographical%20Provinces%20of%20the%20World%20Miklos%20D.F.%20Udvardy.pdf

A classification of the biogeographical provinces of the world

https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/41906/2/Jong_Bruin_Analysis_Monotonic_Greening_Manusk_2010.pdf

Analysis of monotonic greening and browning trends from global NDVI time-series

The Sundarban, covering about one million ha in the delta of the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna is shared between Bangladesh (~60%) and India (~40%), and is the world’s largest coastal wetland. The area experiences a subtropical monsoonal climate with an annual rainfall of 1,600–1,800 mm and severe cyclonic storms. Enormous amounts of sediments carried by the rivers contribute to its expansion and dynamics. Salinity gradients change over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. The biodiversity includes about 350 species of vascular plants, 250 fishes and 300 birds, besides numerous species of phytoplankton, fungi, bacteria, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, molluscs, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Species composition and community structure vary east to west, and along the hydrological and salinity gradients. Sundarban is the habitat of many rare and endangered animals (Batagur baska, Pelochelys bibroni, Chelonia mydas), especially the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris). Javan rhino, wild buffalo, hog deer, and barking deer are now extinct from the area. Large areas of the Sundarban mangroves have been converted into paddy fields over the past two centuries, and more recently into shrimp farms. The Sundarban has been extensively exploited for timber, fish, prawns and fodder. The regulation of river flows by a series of dams, barrages and embankments for diverting water upstream for various human needs and for flood control has caused large reduction in freshwater inflow and seriously affected the biodiversity because of an increase in salinity and changes in sedimentation. Heritiera fomes (locally called Sundari, from which Sundarban derives its name), Nypa fruticans and Phoenix paludosa are declining rapidly. During the past three decades, large parts of the remaining Sundarban have been protected for wildlife, particularly tiger, through the creation of several sanctuaries and a biosphere reserve. Parts of the Sundarban in both India and Bangladesh have been declared World Heritage sites. However, its biodiversity continues to be threatened by a growing human population that not only places pressure on its biological resources, but also impacts on the freshwater inflows from upstream areas. Oil exploration in coastal areas is also emerging as a new threat. Further threats arise from global climate change, especially sea level rise. The future of the Sundarban will depend upon the management of freshwater resources as much as on the conservation of its biological resources.

http://portal.nceas.ucsb.edu/working_group/valuation-of-coastal-habitats/relevant-papers/various-mangroves-related-papers/Gopal%20and%20Chauhan%2C%202006.pdf/attachment_download/file

Sir H. G. Champion

Papers

A revised survey of the forest types of India.