World Journal of Forest Research(WJFR)
ISSN: 2994-5569 | DOI: 10.33140/WJFR
Diara Sylla
International Human–Environment Observatory of Tessékéré, CNRS / Cheikh Anta Diop University of Daka, Senegal
Publications
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Research Article
Use of Drones for Estimating Biodiversity, Structural Parameters, and Woody Carbon Storage in Sahelian Ecosystems of Senegal
Author(s): Ramata Talla, Diara Sylla*, Ndiabou Faye, Moustapha Bassimbé Sagna, Aly Diallo, Oumar Sarr and Aliou Guisse
Sahelian ecosystems play a crucial role in climate regulation, particularly through their capacity to store atmospheric carbon. However, their carbon sequestration potential remains poorly quantified due to the high cost and logistical constraints of conventional field-based methods. This study investigates the use of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to assess dendrometric parameters and estimate the carbon storage capacity of woody vegetation within a 10-hectare Sahelian plot in Senegal. High-resolution aerial imagery was acquired using a DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ drone and processed with photogrammetric software. Tree height and crown diameter were extracted and validated using field measurements, showing a strong correlation for tree height (R2 = 0.94) and a moderate correlation for crown diameter (R2 = 0.74). Spectral index analysis enabled the identification of dominant woody sp.. Read More»