ORION : Biodiversity Management in Chamonix Valley (France)
- Creators
- Space for Climate Observatory
- Contact persons:
- CREA Mont-Blanc
- LECA
- CCVCMB
- Asters CEN-74
- CNES
Description
The ORION project aims to provide biodiversity managers in the Chamonix valley with indicators derived from satellite images. It combines Sentinel-2 data, botanical surveys and camera traps to assess the impact of shrub expansion on floristic diversity and large herbivores.
Details
Characterized by relatively low thickets, heaths are very common in mountains and forests, but their distribution remains poorly known, particularly in the Alps. However, their expansion at the expense of grasslands has a clear negative impact on ecosystems: reduced floristic diversity, fewer plant resources for herbivores and alteration of mountain landscapes.
To address this gap, ORION has drawn on advances in satellite imagery to design a practical tool for managers of natural areas. The ORION project has produced a detailed map of 11 habitat classes in the Mont-Blanc massif, as well as indicators of faunistic and floristic diversity, including an indicator of grazeable area and an indicator of frequentation by large herbivores, and a map of areas likely to be colonized by heathland.
These results are available free of charge on the Mont Blanc Atlas website.
More
To learn more about the application please explore Space for Climate Observatory. Website is available in English and French