Abstract

GONZALEZ MUSSO, R. F.; RABINO, A. L.  and  AZZARO, F.. Using an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) as a forest health monitoring method in coniferous plantations in Northern Patagonia, Argentina. Quebracho (Santiago del Estero) [online]. 2020, vol.28, n.2, pp.88-99. ISSN 0328-0543.

Forest plantations provide a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefits in many parts of the world but their productivity could be affected by the presence of pests. Counting on efficient monitoring and surveying methods is important to help controlling and mitigating impacts caused by pathogens. Last years, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have made it possible obtaining high space-time resolution information for studying ecological and forest processes. They have become potential tools for forest health studies due to their unique features. However, there is little knowledge about its performance concerning forest health monitoring in Argentina. This study analyzed the potential use of UAVs for forest health monitoring and damage estimation in coniferous plantation stands including Sirex noctilio. Particularly, the capacity for quantifying infestation levels and mapping distribution was tested. The UAVs estimations were compared to those obtained from traditional field survey methods used in this region. The results were satisfactory and promising. UAVs allowed to detect symptomatology at tree level and quantify infestation. Estimates showed a tendency to underestimate in a sly manner and with acceptable values, which could be statistically adjustable in the future. In addition, spatially explicit products were generated upon plague distribution which allowed for the detection of small infection spots and of isolated trees with visible symptoms. The results of this study suggest that UAVs may become key instruments for health surveying that contribute to efficient management and control of forest pests and diseases in Patagonia.

Keywords : UAV; Forest health; Forest plantations; Sirex noctilio; Argentine Patagonia.

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