The use of GIS/RS technology in assessing abiotic influencing factors on Forest Health: a Case Study, Divjakë-Karavasta National Park

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are an important tool in the environmental management of protected areas, offering advanced technological methods for biodiversity protection and spatial planning.
In the Divjakë-Karavasta National Park, the integration of GIS technology has significantly improved the monitoring and management of its rich ecosystems. The use of GIS in this park has enabled a detailed inventory of the health of vegetation, enabling the creation of accurate maps of the distribution of biodiversity.
These maps are essential for identifying areas of special ecological importance and for determining appropriate conservation measures. GIS and RS technology provides a solid methodology used to evaluate and analyse different factors that influence a decision with regards to forest health. It helps assess risk to forest health by considering various ecological, climatic and environmental factors(temperatures, humidity, the spread of fires, air pollution etc.) affecting forest health, thus enabling improved management of the forest environment.
A set of satellite images from SN32-Satellite Nusat 32 (Albania 1)/SN33-Satellite Nusat 33 (Albania 2), year 2024 are used as main data source to analyze risk factors in forest health of the park. Important indices namely Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Land Cover (LC) and Road infrastructure have been calculated in a GIS environment using ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.2/Pro 3.2. The spatial patterns that study reveal indicate that the majority of forest areas in Divjake-Karavasta National Park resides in an adequate environment under supportive health factors.
Moreover, GIS enables real-time monitoring of environmental changes, such as the appearance of invasive species or habitat degradation, providing valuable data for quick and effective interventions. The integration of GIS in the management of the Divjakë-Karavasta. National Park has brought many benefits, but it has also encountered various challenges. One of the main challenges is the need for staff training in the use of advanced GIS technology and the provision of the necessary equipment. However, the benefits of this integration are obvious, including improved efficiency in natural resource management and increased capacity to respond to environmental threats.