Estimation of Tree Density in the Juniper Forest of North-East Iran by ALOS Data(<Special Issue>Multipurpose Forest Management)

High resolution satellite images of forests have a key role to play in natural resource management. We describe and evaluate a new analysis technique for 1- Identification of the juniper's tree crown 2- Estimating juniper forest density by counting trees per hectare, 3- Estimating vegetation indices. In this paper, we introduce a new means of analysis for counting trees, calculation of the vegetation index (VI) and comparison with tree numbers per hectare. Results showed linear regression models between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), the optimized soil-adjusted vegetation index (OSAVI) and number of trees per hectare R^2=0.79, 0.79, 0.87, CV%=19.22, 19.27, 19.22 respectively. In addition, the linear regression of counting trees with the new analysis technique by TreeVaW software and trees measured by ALOS data (Avnir-2 and Prism) R^2=0.72 will be demonstrated. In this study, we have found a useful tool for counting trees in arid and semi-arid regions, thus enabling estimation of biomass and better decision making for natural resource managers in fields of environmental benefit.