APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY AND ECOLOGICAL MODELING OF FOREST CARBON STOCKS IN MT. APO NATURAL PARK, PHILIPPINES A Dissertation by LIGAYA RUBAS LEAL Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, J. Richard Conner Committee Members, Sorin Popescu Robert Washington-Allen Sergio Capareda Head of Department, Kathleen Kavanagh May 2015 Major Subject: Ecosystem Science and Management Copyright 2015 Ligaya Rubas Leal ABSTRACT This dissertation work explored the application of remote sensing technology for the assessment of forest carbon storage in Mt. Apo Natural Park. Biomass estimation is traditionally conducted using destructive sampling with high levels of uncertainty. A more accurate and non-destructive method for assessment of biomass level is imperative to characterize remaining forest cover. This research study aimed to: 1) examine the vegetation profile and estimate species-specific biomass of Mt. Apo Natural Park, 2) develop an algorithm to assess biomass in plot-level using a terrestrial lidar system (TLS), and 3) generate landscape-level biomass estimates using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR). This research endeavors to provide answers to these questions: 1) how the 3 tropical allometries compare in estimating field collected species-level biomass and carbon stocks in three management zones?, 2) what are the significant terrestrial laser scanning-derived metrics to assess plot-level biomass?, and 3) to what degree of uncertainty can IFSAR estimate biomass at the landscape level? Field data was gathered from 1382 trees, covering 52 local species during fieldwork in July and August 2013. Twenty-six plots (30 m x 30 m) were sampled on three management zones: multiple use, strict protection and restoration. Local insurgency problems restricted the research team from sampling additional plots. Destructive sampling was not permitted inside the protected area, thus requiring biomass to be estimated via the use of referenced biomass from 3 allometric equations by relating tree height, diameter-at- ii breast height, and wood specificity volume. A vegetation profile across the park was generated using a canopy height map (CHM). Results showed that resampled IFSAR products can be used to characterize biomass and carbon storage at the landscape level. This research has demonstrated the adoption of IPCC’s Tier 2, a combination of field and remote sensing data in the assessment of available biomass levels in a tropical forest. The maps created can assist in providing information for biomass and carbon level in MANP for monitoring, reporting and verification in compliance with REDD requirements. Furthermore, this study can provide helpful information regarding policy implications for reforestation and afforestation activities. iii DEDICATION Dedicated especially to my late Father, Clyde Romero Rubas, for his keen interest in my research. I also dedicate this to my loving mother, Mrs. Cecilia Caldito Rubas, for her unceasing prayers, and words of love and wisdom. My grand family: Beverly & Armand, Hazel & Armando, Lotis & Noel, Ramil, Lucille, Aurea, Clyde II, Aveline, Adriane & Arven Clyde. Love and gratitude to my husband, Arturo Leal, and our forthcoming baby girl. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Conner, and my committee members, Dr. Popescu, Dr. Washington-Allen, and Dr. Capareda, for their guidance and support throughout the course of this research. Thank you also for pooling your research funds to acquire the IFSAR data. Special thanks to Dr. Conner for believing in me, and supporting me throughout my Ph.D. education. Thanks to the TAMU funding to defray some fieldwork expenses: 2013 Harry Wayne Springfield Research Award and 2013 OGAPS Research Grant. Thanks to my friends: Sasa, Ryan, Tony, Tan, and Fred, for the technical help in my times of need. Thanks also to my Professors, the department faculty and staff for making my time at Texas A&M University a great experience. I also want to extend my gratitude to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Regions XI and XII), which provided the research permit, and to the Philippine National Police of Region XII for providing the security escorts. Thanks also to my research assistants for the invaluable support during the rigorous fieldwork v activities. My research team members are: Beverly Rubas, Clyde Rubas II, Clark Rubas, Chadney Anastacio, Aurea Rubas, Harold Rubas, and Armand Atang. I am also grateful for the assistance and kindness extended to us by the Energy Development Corporation, and for allowing us entry into the EDC sampling plots. Finally, thanks to my loving parents and siblings for their encouragement and to my husband for his prayers, patience and love. Above all, praise and honor to our Lord Almighty, whom all things come. I am so blessed. vi NOMENCLATURE AGB Aboveground Biomass ALOS Advanced Land Observing Satellite AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CO2 Eq. Carbon Dioxide Equivalent DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources ETM Enhanced Thematic Mapper GLC 2000 Global Land Cover 2000 GHG Greenhouse Gas GWP Global Warming Potential JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JERS-1 Japan Earth Resource Satellite -1 ICRAF International Council for Research in Agroforestry IFSAR Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IUCN International Union of Conservation of Nature ISODATA Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique LANDSAT Land Satellite LGU Local Government Unit vii LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging LULUCF Land-use, Land-use Cover and Forestry MAFI Mt. Apo Foundation, Inc. MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer NIPAS National Integrated Protected Area System PAMB Protected Area Management Board RADAR Radio Detection and Ranging REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries SPOT Satellites Pour l’Observation de la Terre/Earth Observing Satellite UNFAO United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change USGS US Geological Survey USEPA US Environmental Protection Agency viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... v NOMENCLATURE .................................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... xii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 1.1. Carbon Balance and International Agreements ................................... 1 1.1.1. Global Carbon Cycle ....................................................... 1 1.1.2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Carbon Sequestration...... 3 1.1.3. International Agreements on GHG Emissions................. 3 1.1.4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)...... 4 1.1.5. Global Forest Resource Assessment (FRA) ................... 7 1.1.6. Tropical Forest Deforestation and Degradation ............... 8 1.1.7. Tropical Deforestation and Biodiversity Hotspots .......... 9 1.1.8. Protected Areas ............................................................... 11 1.2. Carbon Dynamics in the Philippines .................................................. 12 1.2.1. The Study Area: Mount Apo Natural Park ...................... 13 1.2.2. Dissertation Rationale ...................................................... 16 1.2.3. Limitations of the Study .................................................. 18 1.2.4. Organization of the Dissertation ...................................... 18 II VEGETATION PROFILE AND BIOMASS ESTIMATES IN MT. APO NATURAL PARK .................................................................. 20 ix CHAPTER Page 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................ 20 2.1.1. Rationale ......................................................................... 23 2.1.2. Objectives ....................................................................... 24 2.1.3. Hypothesis .................................................................... 24 2.2. Review of Related Literatures ......................................................... 25 2.3. Data and Methods ............................................................................ 27 2.3.1. Data Acquisition ............................................................ 27 2.3.2. Modelling for Referenced Biomass ............................... 29 2.3.3. Data Processing Flowchart ........................................... 31 2.4. Results and Discussions ..................................................................... 32 2.4.1. Habitat Type ..................................................................