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Land Use and Biotope Type Mapping of the Biosphere Reserve Rhön
on the basis of color-infrared-images, 1:10.000
In the context of its programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB) the UNESCO creates biosphere reserves to protect typical landscapes throughout the world. Those are reserves that are cultural landscapes and specific for the particular vegetation zone. The biosphere reserve Rhön was certified in 1991 and covers the core area of the lower mountain range Rhön in the Federal States Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia. It has a total area of 185.262 ha, thereof 72.802 ha (39,3 %) of Bavaria, 63.564 ha (34,3 %) of Hesse and 48.896 ha (26,4 %) of Thuringia. In addition to that LUP mapped an intended extension area of 2006 in Bavaria.
Already in 1993/94 a photo flight of the biosphere reserve in the former dimension was made. Analogue CIR aerial photographs were taken. These were analysed at the stereoscope by LUP and a digital land use and biotope type map was created on a scale of 1:10.000. The mapping in Hesse and Thuringia was based on the authoritative topographic cadastre information system (Amtlichen Topographisch-Kartographischen Informationssystem, ATKIS) and in Bavaria on the digital land register map (Digitale Flurkarte, DFK).
In 2006 a new photo flight with analogue CIR aerial photographs of area including the intended extension area was realised. The land use and biotope type map of 1993/94 has been updated and the extended area (58.985 ha) has been mapped.
Through the inventory of two periods analyses of the status and change of land use and biotope types are possible (control of success, efficiency of arrangements). They enable the monitoring of the changing and development of the landscape and the fulfilment of the obligation to report to the UNESCO.
