akeDataAnalyst/forest-degradation-monitor

Geospatial impact assessment quantifying deforestation and forest degradation risk from charcoal production in Segou, Mali, using GEE and Python. # Charcoal Production Impact Assessment: Forest Monitoring ## Description This project provides a data-driven geospatial assessment of the impact of charcoal production on forest resources in the Segou region, Mali. By integrating field-collected kiln locations with satellite-based land cover data, this analysis quantifies the extent of forest degradation and identifies high-risk areas for conservation interventions. ## Problem Rapid expansion of charcoal production poses a significant threat to forest ecosystems in the Segou region. Charcoal kilns require wood fuel, leading to deforestation and forest degradation in their immediate vicinity. Without a clear spatial understanding of where these kilns are concentrated relative to existing tree cover, it is difficult for authorities and conservationists to implement effective monitoring and mitigation strategies. ## Solution I developed a geospatial monitoring pipeline that: 1. **Maps Kiln Locations:** Translates raw kiln coordinate data into a spatial dataset. 2. **Models Influence Zones:** Creates a 2km "Degradation Influence Zone" around each charcoal kiln to estimate potential harvest areas. 3. **Quantifies Forest Risk:** Intersects the influence zones with 2024 Dynamic World land cover data to calculate the total hectares of tree cover at risk. 4. **Identifies High-Risk Proximity:** Uses distance analysis to pinpoint kilns within 500m of healthy forest patches, allowing for targeted intervention. 5. **Visualizes Findings:** Generates interactive maps for stakeholders to identify hotspots of deforestation pressure. ## Tech Stacks Used * **Python:** Core programming language. * **Google Earth Engine (GEE) API:** For satellite data processing and spatial analysis. * **Geemap:** A Python package for interactive mapping with Google Earth Engine. * **Pandas & Geopandas:** For tabular data manipulation and vector data management. * **Dynamic World (V1):** Real-time land cover classification dataset. ## Recommendati …