A 30-Year Analysis of Forest Cover and Land Surface Temperature in Attapeu Province, Lao PDR

Abstract

Changing forest areas can have a complex range of impacts on ground temperatures, from increasing temperatures due to loss of shade to creating drier and hotter local climate environments. This study aims to identify spatiotemporal changes in forest cover and retrieve land surface temperature (LST) using thermal infrared sensor (TIRS) data in Attapeu province, Lao PDR from 1994 to 2024. Geographic information system (GIS) techniques were employed to extract spatiotemporal changes in land use and land cover (LULC) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The analysis of LULC change revealed a notable decrease of 18.43% in dense forest areas, accompanied by an increase of 7.87% in sparse forest and 11.35% in cropland, indicating a transition from dense forest to sparse forest and cropland for the study area. The analysis of LST utilizing TIRS revealed a consistent negative correlation with NDVI. The coefficient of determination (R2) indicated values of 0.5896 in 1994, 0.5691 in 2009, and 0.4344 in 2024. By correlating remotely-sensed thermal data with in situ observations, this research delineated the prolonged alterations in LST due to fluctuations in forest cover. The urgency of enacting policies is underscored to mitigate the ongoing loss of forest cover. These findings emphasize the need for immediate policy actions, such as enhanced forest conservation and reforestation programs, to mitigate rising temperatures and ensure ecological sustainability in Attapeu province. The insights garnered from this investigation hold significant implications for the conservation endeavors aimed at preserving the forests of Attapeu province.