Fraser Island
Finally, I reiterate the point that it is a convenient abstraction to
illustrate just the influence of forestry on forest landcover. Many other
influences are at work, either separately or in concert. It is important
to recognise this interaction, to balance the concerns one may have about
environmental issues. It is a pre-requisite for applying a sceptical mind
to the representation of such issues in the media by all parties to the
forest debate.
The multiplicity and interaction of the influences on forests and the resultant
landcover change are well illustrated by the whole of the Fraser Island
scene. This mosaic comprises two Landsat scenes. Just an eyeball comparison
of the two FCC images adequately communicates the landcover change due to
plantation forestry, agricultural and urban expansion, and wildfire (northern
tip of the island).
The big picture - the synoptic view uniquely provided by space images -
is a prerequisite to understanding processes at a much smaller scale, as
well as the all important aggregate tally.
Use your browser to open each image
in a new window to compare them.
This is the 'big picture' of the Fraser Island region of Queensland.
For reasons of population movements and growth, this area of Queensland
shows dynamic landcover change. In one FCC image you can detect (and imagine)
landcover change occurring while you watch. The small sub-scene that was
used to look back on changes resulting from plantation forestry can be recognised
and placed in context. A great amount and diversity of landcover change
can be found with just an eyeball comparison of these two images. There
is the rehabilitation of a large fire on Fraser Island, as well as the expansion
of agriculture and of plantation forests. Interestingly, I cannot detect
any landcover change from logging on Fraser Island itself. Active logging
on this island stopped only in
the last year
