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Severity Analysis of the 2021 Wildfires in Nuevo León
Objective:
To develop a 2021 wildfire severity map to identify the areas affected by fires in Nuevo León. The purpose is to provide the location, extent, and severity of burned areas in order to develop a restoration strategy.
Methodology:
The analysis is based on multispectral satellite images from Sentinel-2. Specifically, the burned area is determined at the pixel level using the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), which utilizes near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths to highlight fire-affected areas
To identify recently burned areas and differentiate them from bare soils or other non-vegetated areas, a differential NBR is used to estimate burn severity. The change in NBR is calculated before and after the fire. This analysis is not only useful for mapping burned areas but also for monitoring, over time, the success of restoration measures such as soil works and reforestation.
Key Components:
• Quantification of burned area in Nuevo León, broken down by municipality and within Cumbres de Monterrey National Park.
• Classification of burned areas by intensity (low, moderate-low, moderate-high, high).
• Classification of burned areas by vegetation type.
Project highlights:
1. An estimated total of 20,962 hectares burned in Nuevo León, with Santiago and Galeana most affected.
2. In Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, 11,530 hectares were affected by fires (8,546 ha in Santiago, and 2,984 ha in Rayones and Montemorelos).
3. Of the affected area within the park (11,530 hectares), 16% exhibited low severity, 35% moderate-low, 26% moderate-high, and 23% high severity.
Users: Environmental sector
Impact:
• The analysis allows for the development of restoration strategies focused on areas of higher severity.
Authors and Collaborators:
• Authors: 52impact
• Final client: FAMM
• Investors: FAMM
Objective:
To develop a 2021 wildfire severity map to identify the areas affected by fires in Nuevo León. The purpose is to provide the location, extent, and severity of burned areas in order to develop a restoration strategy.
Methodology:
The analysis is based on multispectral satellite images from Sentinel-2. Specifically, the burned area is determined at the pixel level using the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), which utilizes near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths to highlight fire-affected areas
To identify recently burned areas and differentiate them from bare soils or other non-vegetated areas, a differential NBR is used to estimate burn severity. The change in NBR is calculated before and after the fire. This analysis is not only useful for mapping burned areas but also for monitoring, over time, the success of restoration measures such as soil works and reforestation.
Key Components:
• Quantification of burned area in Nuevo León, broken down by municipality and within Cumbres de Monterrey National Park.
• Classification of burned areas by intensity (low, moderate-low, moderate-high, high).
• Classification of burned areas by vegetation type.
Project highlights:
1. An estimated total of 20,962 hectares burned in Nuevo León, with Santiago and Galeana most affected.
2. In Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, 11,530 hectares were affected by fires (8,546 ha in Santiago, and 2,984 ha in Rayones and Montemorelos).
3. Of the affected area within the park (11,530 hectares), 16% exhibited low severity, 35% moderate-low, 26% moderate-high, and 23% high severity.
Users: Environmental sector
Impact:
• The analysis allows for the development of restoration strategies focused on areas of higher severity.
Authors and Collaborators:
• Authors: 52impact
• Final client: FAMM
• Investors: FAMM
