Comparison of spectral signatures in asaí (Euterpe precatoria), majo (Oenocarpus bataua) and cacao (Theobroma cacao) with remote sensing in the Northern Amazon of La Paz-Bolivia

Abstract

Due to the increasing deforestation in the forested areas of Bolivia, non-timber forest resources such as asaí (Euterpe precatoria), majo (Oenocarpus bataua) and cacao (Theobroma cacao), have gained importance due to the nutritional, productive and economic properties they contribute to ecosystems, for this reason the study analyzes the spectral signatures of the three species, in the northern Amazon of La Paz, Bolivia, using advanced remote sensing technologies. The main objective was to improve the accuracy of the identification of these species, which are vital for the sustainable management of forests and the livelihoods of local communities.Data were collected using ground-based sensors (Handheld2 ASD) for validation, along with multispectral imagery from drones (Phantom 4 Pro, Parrot Sequoia) and satellite imagery from Landsat 7, Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2B. Several atmospheric correction methods, such as ATCOR (ERDAS), SEN2COR (SNAP) and the Dark Object method, were applied to the satellite images to ensure data integrity. The results showed that the UAV images, together with those from Landsat 7 and Sentinel-2B, showed a higher correlation with the real data obtained on the ground with the spectroradiometer, while those from Landsat 8 showed significant deviations. This research underscores the critical role of appropriate atmospheric corrections in accurately identifying forest fruits. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of ecological monitoring and resource management in tropical forestecosystems, emphasizing the potential of remote sensing technologies to enhance biodiversity conservation efforts.