Evaluation environmental of changes resulting from fires in Banias region using Modern techniques

Abstract

 Forest fires have significant environmental, economic, social, and health impacts, as they affect ecosystems. Monitoring the environmental effects of forest fires is of utmost importance to propose measures to mitigate the risks and impacts of this catastrophic event. This study aims to assess the environmental variations of burned forests in the Banias region and produce maps that will aid in analyzing these assessments.

 The study focused on analyzing environmental changes caused by fires in vegetation cover using the NDVI index, soil moisture using the soil moisture index (SMI) in addition to estimating carbon monoxide (CO) emissions,

which is one of the most important gases emitted as a result of forest fires.

The study results, based on the analysis of (Landsat 8) images with a 30-meter resolution in the visible and near-infrared spectral bands, using digital processing techniques and maps produced between October and June 2020, showed a correlation between drought waves, fires, and negative environmental impacts. The region experienced a decline in vegetation density during the studied period, with the NDVI value decreasing from 0.936 before the fires to 0.8350 after the fires. The NBR index indicated a 6.90% reduction in forest cover, with the northeastern areas being the most affected. This was accompanied by increased soil moisture stress levels, with the SMI index reaching zero in the most affected areas, in addition to increased carbon monoxide emissions, ranging between 0.029 and 0.032 mol/m².

 The results of this study can be used in conjunction with data from the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMO) to assess air quality and the environmental impacts of fires. This contributes to developing effective fire management strategies and helps in preserving biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystems.