A holistic approach to the monitoring of land cover changes in Sri Lanka using intermediate remote sensing techniques

Heavy social and economic pressure on the available land resources in Sri Lanka are causing major land-cover changes. They need to be assessed to serve as input data for decision-making processes e.g. in agricultural or ecological planning.The Sri Lanka/Swiss Satellite Imagery Interpretation Project has developed a holistic approach to the mapping and monitoring of the land-use and the land-cover changes. The method applies intermediate level technology and is based on a benchmark/masking technique using satellite images, aerial photography and field surveys.The regular monitoring of changes of land-use types as a whole, e.g. forests, is part of the approach as well as the periodic assessment of changes within a specific land category, e.g. the seasonally cultivated riceland.The activities have to be transferred from the level of scientific research to the actual application within a reasonable time frame using the local resources. Discussed are also some of the problems inherent in the implementation of remote sensing activities in a so-called Third World country.