An approach for studying changes in ecology: A beech forest case study from Pernik Province, Western Bulgaria.

The present study deals with the investigation of the beech forests of Pernik Province. It aims to test a methodological approach for determination of the condition of beech forests. The area of research is located in the western parts of Bulgaria. Forests represent an essential natural resource that impacts the quality of the environment and the population living in its vicinity. The processes of mapping and monitoring of tree habitats has a long tradition in dendrology. Landsat 8 data has been used for the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation (NDVI) for the study area. Four months (May, June, July and November) have been studied with the available satellite data. The tested methodological approach shows promise when it comes to June and July, yet data regarding May and November is controversial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]