Metodología para la elaboración de un plan de restauración postincendio en Chile: la experiencia del Parque Nacional de Torres del Paine

Abstract

The use of remote sensing data for assessment and restoration of areas affected by wildfires is one aspect that has undergone further development in recent years. In this paper the methodology developed by the CONAF and the University of Córdoba (Spain) to generate the basic cartography oriented restoration plans in areas burned in Chile is presented. This methodology was applied to the fire of the National Park Torres del Paine (2005) using Landsat ETM + and ASTER images and supervised classifications based on delta NBR (Normalized Burnt Ratio) index. A map of pre-fire vegetation (Kappa coefficient 0.75), the area covered by the fire (17,138 ha) and the severity of the damage caused by the fire (Kappa coefficient 0.73) were obtained. Results were applied to a proposal to restore the area affected by the fire. The methodology has demonstrated the versatility of the medium spatial resolution images and NBR index for mapping burned areas in Chile. This information was used to support the restoration of ecosystems damage by the fire of Torres del Paine National Park.