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Coastal change
Danube Delta change detectionOil spills
Deforestation
Bardia National Park
Congo River Basin
Kameng-Sonitpur Elephant ReserveKilimanjaroRondoniaShillong and Guwahati
Ice
Antarctica 2003Climate change and glaciersGlacier analysis using radar imageryGlacial retreat in the AlpsGlacier Ice FlowMonitoring of glaciers in the HimalayasRemote sensing of ice and snow
Urbanisation
CairoCity of KathmanduCórdobaHimalayasKathmandu ValleyLagos
Vegetation
Annapurna Conservation AreaLost in the AndesNgorongoro Conservation AreaNiger Inland DeltaVegetation in South America
 
 
 
 
 
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Landsat image showing the Congo River Basin
Landsat image showing the Congo River Basin
Congo River Basin
 
The Congo Basin is known for both its enormous diversity of unique flora and fauna and its deposits of rare mineral resources such as coltan, which is used, for example, in mobile phone batteries. Unfortunately, decades of political instability have left their mark on the whole region.

The exploitation of these natural resources is a threat to the Congo's entire natural environment. Illegal deforestation is a particularly serious problem. Felling harms the rainforest, not just because of the logging itself, but also because the building of roads necessary for the removal of the timber destroys large parts of the unique forest and gives poachers an easy entrance into the dense bush.

Satellite images can help in the observation of the process of sustainable cultivation and in the identification of illegal land use, deforestation, and slash and burn methods. Furthermore, the satellite images can be used for locating environmentally acceptable routes for the transport of legal logging, or areas suitable for afforestation or cultivation.  
 

This case study includes:

  • a background section
  • a worksheet introduction
  • exercises

    You can access them by clicking on the links on the right.

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    Congo River Basin
    Background
    Exercises
    Worksheet introductionExercises using Landsat ETM data
    Links
    Landsat satellite program (NASA)
    Eduspace - Software
    LEOWorks 3
    Eduspace - Download
    congo_riverbasin.zipTechnical information about Landsat bands (PDF)
     
     
     
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