Representatives from each Canadian biosphere reserve attended a workshop to explore and develop landscape change detection methods. Experts in this field provided training to workshop attendees.

Landscape change information (what has been done and what was needed) was assessed for each participating biosphere reserve. Projects were undertaken based on local objectives and resources. The Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve synthesized land use and land cover change information for the Escarpment and identified linkages at different scales of analysis (regional, area and site level). The term "land use" was used to describe the alterations made to the landscape by humans, while "land cover" referred to types of naturally occurring vegetation.

Regional Level

Classified satellite imagery from 1976 and 1995 were compared to examine changes in land use along the southern portion of the Escarpment (Niagara to Peel Region). The most drastic change was an increase in recreational areas (e.g. golf courses) from 0.7% to 1.8%.

Forest cover in the study area slightly increased over the 20 year period (from 43% to 44%). The 1995 forests were likely composed of the original (1976) forests and areas where trees matured from early successional stages. However, forest fragmentation analysis showed that the landscape in 1995 consisted of more numerous, smaller patches with a greater variability in size compared to 1976. The amount of interior habitat (i.e. forest >100m from the nearest edge) decreased over the 20 year period from 52% of the study area to 39%. This decline may represent one of the most serious threats affecting forest interior-dependent bird species.

Area Level

Area level analysis provides a more detailed view of the landscape than at a regional scale. For example, forests can be broken down into physiognomic classes (deciduous, coniferous, or mixed) and the connectivity of forests can be examined. Area level analysis is directed at monitoring the cumulative effects of land use change i.e. the sum of human impacts within a defined area over time.

Cumulative effects monitoring of landscape conditions was conducted for the northern portion of the Halton Region. Aerial photographs dating 1974 and 1994 were the primary tool for classifying the landscape. GIS was used to generate two final maps: one where landscape change within the study area resulted in positive cumulative effects; and the other showing negative cumulative effects. An example of a positive cumulative effect is increased habitat for forest interior bird species. The conversion of a forest stand to farmland is an example of a negative cumulative effect.

The results showed that most areas with negative cumulative effects in north Halton were associated with habitat fragmentation, isolation and loss due to resource extraction along the Escarpment brow. Areas of positive cumulative effects (increased connectivity between forests, increased forest interior habitat) occurred in small, isolated areas, most of which were farms or resource extraction areas that were abandoned between 1974 and 1994 and left to regenerate.

Site Level

Site level analysis addresses threats or targets stress areas identified at the regional and area levels of analysis. This "micro" scale of analysis can answer specific monitoring questions identified at broader scales.

Investigations at the site level (within the Hilton Falls Conservation Area in the Halton Region) focused on two integrated research areas:

1. a detailed inventory of a 1 hectare plot to examine long-term changes in forest biodiversity and dynamics
   
   
2. forest bird productivity monitoring to examine breeding success of Wood Thrush in different sized forests

Summary of Integrated Analysis

Regional level analysis provides a broad overview of historic and existing land use and land cover patterns. This includes establishing a baseline of information and examining landscape change.

Locations for area level analysis are selected based on where significant landscape change has been identified at the regional level. Land use and land cover classifications established at the regional level can also be confirmed at the area level.

The identification of stresses / threats at the area level of analysis guides the location of intensive monitoring plots to assess the effects of development. The selection of sites to monitor the breeding success of forest interior-dependent bird species can also be based on area level information.