Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

2004

Abstract

Timber production has been one of the most important industries in east Texas since the mid 19th century. For over 100 years, timber has represented one-third of all agricultural income in this region. In order to review forest landscape changes over time -- resulting from many years of management and investment -- historical satellite remote sensing data from 1974 to 2002 were used to determine landscape patterns and changes in four counties of east Texas : Angelina, Nacogdoches , San Augustine, and Shelby . Land cover was classified either as forest or non-forest and a land cover map was generated for seven unique time stages. Landscape patches were identified on each land cover map and landscape metrics were calculated, including patch size, aggregation of patches, and patch shape complexity. Results showed a decline of total forestland in the 1980s and a recovery in the 1990s. This observation coincided with historical information about large scale clear-cutting during this time. Mean patch size of forest showed a trend of increase, whereas that of non-forest was consistently decreasing over time. This reflected the decrease of forest patch shape complexity, while the patch shape of non-forest became more complex. The forest in east Texas plays an important role (presumably from intensive management) not only in the local economy but also in the environment. Replanting efforts have created buffers between land development such as urban sprawl and ranching. Eventually, the forest maintains the overall landscape contagion while non-forest land-use is becoming more fragmented.

Comments

Presented at the 4th Southern Forestry and Natural Resources GIS Conference , Athens, Georgia 2004

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