Earth observation from space assisting in the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage sites an example in Central Africa

摘要

UNESCO has recently initiated an international partnership with the Space Agencies. Such an important partnership is a call to all international space agencies to support UNESCO through the use of space technologies to assist developing countries in the monitoring of World Heritage sites. This paper presents an example of the use of remote sensing to assist environmental conservation activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and Rwanda. No cartography is currently available for the World Heritage sites in these countries. The sites host the remaining 'mountain gorilla', therefore space technologies to derive accurate cartography as well as a detailed land cover change assessment (1990-2003) is fundamental to ensure the conservation of the gorilla habitat. Other examples on the use of remote sensing for the preservation of our cultural and natural heritage are also described.