Are clear-cut areas estimated from LANDSAT imagery reliable?

The reliability of LANDSAT imagery for estimation of clear-cut areas was evaluated by comparison with data obtained from high-altitude photos and logging historical map and from field inspections. A mature forest was selected as a test site because of its continuous clear-cut operation. The forest is about 50 km northwest of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and consists of 9092 ha. Areas clear-cut within the past year were overestimated by 12.9%, those clear-cut 1-year or more by 2.2%, whereas uncut mature timber was underestimated by 3.6%. Three clear-cut areas were missed in the logging map and two in the LANDSAT enhancement. The difference between area estimates was significant when all 26 areas were included but not when 2 overestimated areas were excluded from the analysis. The study indicates that LANDSAT imagery color enhancement is a useful tool in up-dating clear-cut areas for long-term planning in forest management.