Abstract Detailed mapping and regular monitoring of tropical rainforests is important for conservation and management of highly fragmented tropical rainforest habitats and biodiversity. Several studies have observed that it is highly challenging to map different vegetation types in tropical rainforests due to large environmental heterogeneity, high topographical variability and near constant cloud cover. In the present study, we assessed the capability of optical multispectral Sentinel-2 MSI bands, their derived NDVI and textures, and SAR Sentinel-1 bands and their textures to discriminate different vegetation types in the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats using maximum likelihood and random forest classification. We also compared the results of our classification with previous such maps of the study area. Finally, we evaluated the magnitude of habitat fragmentation by using derived landscape metrics. Our classification had high accuracy (>75%), especially compared to previous classification efforts. Our results emphasise the significance of using vegetation indices and textures for vegetation type classification in the Western Ghats. Furthermore, the results suggest that rainforest habitats and other agro-ecosystems, suitable as habitats for numerous plant and animal species, are highly fragmented and require top conservation priority. High spectral and spatial resolution, continuity, affordability and access makes Sentinel-2 one of the best options for regular monitoring of tropical rainforests.

中文翻译：

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使用多光谱 Sentinel-2 和 SAR Sentinel-1 卫星图像绘制和评估西高止山脉热带雨林中的植被类型

摘要 热带雨林的详细测绘和定期监测对于高度分散的热带雨林栖息地和生物多样性的保护和管理非常重要。几项研究观察到，由于环境异质性大、地形多变性和云量几乎恒定，绘制热带雨林中不同植被类型的地图极具挑战性。在本研究中，我们评估了光学多光谱 Sentinel-2 MSI 波段、其派生的 NDVI 和纹理以及 SAR Sentinel-1 波段及其纹理的能力，以使用最大似然和随机森林分类。我们还将我们的分类结果与研究区域以前的此类地图进行了比较。最后，我们使用派生的景观指标评估了栖息地破碎化的程度。我们的分类具有很高的准确度 (>75%)，尤其是与之前的分类工作相比。我们的结果强调了使用植被指数和纹理进行西高止山脉植被类型分类的重要性。此外，结果表明，适合作为众多动植物物种栖息地的雨林栖息地和其他农业生态系统高度分散，需要优先保护。高光谱和空间分辨率、连续性、可负担性和可访问性使 Sentinel-2 成为定期监测热带雨林的最佳选择之一。特别是与之前的分类工作相比。我们的结果强调了使用植被指数和纹理进行西高止山脉植被类型分类的重要性。此外，结果表明，适合作为众多动植物物种栖息地的雨林栖息地和其他农业生态系统高度分散，需要优先保护。高光谱和空间分辨率、连续性、可负担性和可访问性使 Sentinel-2 成为定期监测热带雨林的最佳选择之一。特别是与之前的分类工作相比。我们的结果强调了使用植被指数和纹理进行西高止山脉植被类型分类的重要性。此外，结果表明，适合作为众多动植物物种栖息地的雨林栖息地和其他农业生态系统高度分散，需要优先保护。高光谱和空间分辨率、连续性、可负担性和可访问性使 Sentinel-2 成为定期监测热带雨林的最佳选择之一。高度分散，需要最优先保护。高光谱和空间分辨率、连续性、可负担性和可访问性使 Sentinel-2 成为定期监测热带雨林的最佳选择之一。高度分散，需要最优先保护。高光谱和空间分辨率、连续性、可负担性和可访问性使 Sentinel-2 成为定期监测热带雨林的最佳选择之一。