Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing for Forest Conservation and Management: A Case Study of the Gran Chaco in Central Argentina

Abstract

Anthropogenic alteration of tropical and subtropical forests is a major driver of biodi-versity loss, with the Chaco forest, the largest dry forest in the Americas, among the most impacted regions. Sustainable forest management, a key objective of the UN´s 15th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), underscores the need for advanced moni-toring tools. This study integrates Sentinel-2 remote sensing (RS) spectral indices with field data to analyze forests under varying management regimes and levels of altera-tion in a representative area of the Chaco region (Chancaní Provincial Reserve and surrounding areas of the West Arid Chaco). Forest structure types and conservation levels were linked to monthly spectral index behavior using Linear Mixed Models and Random Forest analysis. Spectral indices such as BI (Brightness Index), NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index), and MCARI (Modified Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index) effectively differentiated forest stands by conservation status and structural alteration. This combined RS and field data approach proved highly effective for detecting and characterizing forests with diverse conservation and sustainability conditions. The methodology demonstrates significant potential as a reliable RS-based tool for monitoring forest health and supporting progress toward SDG targets, particularly in regions like the Chaco forest, which faces extensive anthropogenic pressures.