Remote sensing in aridland/rangeland regions has developed to meet the need for low cost management information over large expanses of land. Applications include rangeland management, watershed analysis, antidesertification, wildlife habitat management, mine waste reclamation, management of the arid land-irrigated agriculture interface, and outdoor recreation. Unique remote sensing problems in arid regions are related to sparse vegetation, multiple species, and considerable bare ground. Thus spectral interpretations must consider: multiple intermingled green and senescent species; considerable bare ground which includes cryptogamic soil crusts and powdery, endurated, or salinized surfaces; standing dead vegetation; litter; and shadows. Pixel modeling will be required in these heterogeneous environments. In particular, the lack of greenness tends to preclude the application of vegetation indices based on infrared/red ratios. New interpretation approaches to scene understanding, such as those included in this issue, should lead to useful procedures for aridlands.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.