How has the Above-ground biomass (AGB) of Mudge and Link Islands, British Columbia, changed between 2019 and 2024, corresponding to Landcover Change?

This study examined land-cover transition and AGB change on Mudge Island and Link Island in the southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia between 2019 and 2024. The objective was to assess the correlation between land-cover transition and AGB change, and to develop a statistical model based on Lidar metrics that could support AGB estimation in future studies.

A multi-source spatial approach was used by combining PlanetScope imagery, Lidar point cloud data, and stand-level inventory information. To do this, PlanetScope imagery was classified into five land-cover classes using supervised classification, while Lidar data were processed to derive canopy structure metrics and develop a biomass prediction model linked to stand-level inventory data. The results showed that the study area remained largely forested, with coniferous forest remaining dominant and most stands characterized by stable forest transition.