Mapping Changes in Land Cover Composition and Pattern for Comparing Mediterranean Rangeland Restoration Alternatives

The limited amount of studies addressing the long-term effectiveness of restoration actions to combat land degradation is a constraint for current landscape restoration planning and implementation. Remote sensing data provide a unique opportunity for gathering information on the spatial and temporal variability of restoration processes and may contribute to fill this knowledge gap. The aim of this study is to compare different management actions undertaken in Mediterranean degraded rangelands (i.e.dense pine plantations, thinned pine plantations, protection and passive management) by analysing landscape composition and pattern change assessed from object-based classification of aerial photograph of 1954, 1977 and 2006. Results show a clear link between landscape composition and structure and the different restoration actions, allowing comparison between their spatial and temporal dynamics. All restoration actions promoted an increase in woody vegetation cover compared with non-restored areas. However, only protection and passive management favoured the restoration of dense, complex and well-connected patches of native Mediterranean maquis. The proposed methodology is discussed with respect to its applicability for future Mediterranean landscape restoration planning in a wider geographic and ecological perspective.