Vegetation Mapping of Shibetsu Mire, Eastern Hokkaido using Drone Color Aerial Photographs

Abstract

In this research, we made a detailed vegetation map with 39 wetland plant communities of Shibetsu wetland in the eastern part of Hokkaido, where wetland vegetation has begun to change in recent years, using color aerial photographs taken with a digital camera mounted on a drone (an Unmanned aerial vehicle) in order to conserve its wetland ecosystem. Examining that vegetation map, we characterized the current status of wetland vegetation and analyzed the vegetation change by comparing it with the vegetation survey records conducted in the past.

As a result, Abies sachalinensis, Picea glehnii, Larix kaempferi, Betula platyphylla var. japonica have invaded into the high moor of the Shibetsu wetland and the vegetation has drastically changed. Moreover, Sasa spp. also is recognized to have been widely invading into the high moor. It turns out that some measures to preserve valuable high moor vegetation and the wetland environment should be taken in the near future.