DETERMINATION OF EMISSION FACTOR FROM LOGGING OPERATIONS IN ULU JELAI FOREST RESERVE, PAHANG USING THE INTEGRATION OF UAV AND HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGERIES

Abstract

Logging activity is one of the lead drivers of carbon emission from tropical forest, and this increases greenhouse gases which cause global warming. In this study, we assessed the emission factors that contributed to total carbon emission from selective logging activities, including the overall impact that was associated with selective logging in several compartments of Ulu Jelai Forest Reserve (UJFR), Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia. Data from different remote sensing platforms such as digital aerial photographs generated from unmanned aerial vehicle and satellite images (Planetscope and Worldview) were used to extract forest attributes associated with the logging process. Based on the findings, the major sources of emission were found to be from the construction of logging infrastructure, followed by timber extraction and incidental damage. The estimated emission factor was 1.305 Mg C m^-3 when the logging area was logged. The value of total carbon emission for the selected compartments when the selective logging was over was 7050.54 Mg C, with an average of 84.95 Mg C per ha^-1. This study explicates the relevant value of estimated carbon emission in the selectively logged tropical forest and we expect our approach to be utilised in determining the emission factor of other tropical forest units.