Application of remote sensing for studying natural resources

Increasingly, we are realizing the finite capacity of our globe to absorb the consequences of our activities: ongoing degradation and loss of natural ecosystems and dependent species; overuse of resources; pollution of water, land and the atmosphere; and modifications in atmospheric composition leading to climate change with all its consequences. The universally agreed target to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity by the year 2010 has provided cohesion to the efforts of Governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector partners, and civil society alike to collaboratively reduce the size of our ecological footprint. Technological advances, refined methodologies and growing databases make our systems for monitoring environment increasingly effective. As this document demonstrates, remote sensing is without a doubt one of the indispensable tools for detecting changes in multiple facets of environment over time.