Remote Sensing-Based Estimation of Carbon Sequestration in Hong Kong Country Parks from 1978 to 2004

ABSTRACT

This paper estimates the amount of carbon sequestered by vegetation and soil in the country parks of Hong Kong from 1978 to 2004. It does so by comparing satellite images of each country park from 1978, 1991, 1997, and 2004, and calculating the area of woodland, scrubland, and grassland in each image. The amount of carbon sequestered in both vegetation and soil is then estimated using aggregate data from other studies. This study shows that there was little overall ecological succession in the country parks from 1978 to 2004, but the amount of carbon sequestered doubled during that period. The paper concludes that limitations in the quality of the satellite images and in the data used to quantify the carbon sequestered by vegetation and soil call for more research before this method is used for policy planning.

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