Evaluación del índice de vegetación de diferencia normalizada para determinar el estado de conservación del bosque de ceja andina sur occidental del Parque Nacional Sangay, parroquia Achupallas, cantón Alausí, provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index with satellite images RapidEye and Landsat 7TM+ to determine the state of conservation of Andean eyebrow located in the south western of Parque Nacional Sangay, Parroquia Achupallas, Alausi Country – Chimborazo Province. It used satellite images as a base and with the use of advanced remote sensing techniques obtained the area occupied by the forest of Andean eyebrow and calculated the NDVI. As first step, it determined the differences between the two sets of images trough a statistical analysis (completely randomized design): besides the analysis of variance determined that least amount of spectral bands of RapidEye is offset by its higher resolution allowing distinguish the forest exactly. With these type of images and through a multi- temporal analysis determined that the NDVI is important parameter within a conservation study, which indicated that during the period (2001 - 2014) the vegetation that makes up the forest has remained dense and vigorous with values from 0,451 to 0,812, although the total area has lost 1931, 6 ha., resenting a decrease of 9%. The NDVI is useful indicator to get a clear idea about what happens with forest vegetation and allows technicians take appropriate action, optimizing time and money before applying a conservation study.