Remote sensing for large-area habitat mapping

Remote sensing has long been identified as a technology capable of supporting the development of wildlife habitat maps over large areas. However, progress has been constrained by underdeveloped linkages between resource managers with extensive knowledge of ecology and remote sensing scientists with backgrounds in geography This article attempts to traverse that gap by (i) clarifying the imprecise and commonly misunderstood concept of 'habitat', (ii) exploring the recent use of remote sensing in previous habitat-mapping exercises, (iii) reviewing the remote sensing toolset developed for extracting information from optical satellite imagery, and (iv) outlining a framework for linking ecological information needs with remote sensing techniques.