Master theses related to the projects ECOBUDGETS and ECoMAP

Topic

Ground truthing of biodiversity maps for nature accounting

Summary

In the face of nature loss at the scales we are witnessing today, nature accounting and budgeting starts receiving increased focus. At the basis of such accounts are the physical properties of nature: the extent and the condition of ecosystems.

To create a physical nature account, especially at local spatial scales, full area covering map information is needed. Biodiversity- and other nature-related maps are often based on models and/or remote sensing, and thus carry a certain amount of uncertainty. An important approach to both test available maps and improve them is validation and ground truthing.

The ECOBUDGETS project seeks to develop nature accounts and budgets for Bergen, which offers opportunities for master theses focusing on validation and ground-truthing of modelled and/or remote-sensing based maps. The theses would span from the design of data collection, via field work, and to validation of maps of the chosen target variables. Examples for target variables/maps are species inventories, alien species, pollination services, or carbon stocks.

Veiledere

Vigdis Vandvik (UiB, vigdis.vandvik@uib.no),
Joachim Töpper (NINA, joachim.topper@nina.no)

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