Image is attempting to acquire additional images of 
the study area, but 48 attempts to-date have been 
unsuccessful. 
Topographic maps of 1:50,000 scale were used to 
collect ground control, as well as information on 
hydrography and transportation networks. These 
maps were produced in 1988 from aerial photographs 
recorded by the former Soviet Union. Boundaries of 
indigenous territories were acquired from maps 
created by anthropologists working with the 
individual indigenous groups. 
2.2 Field Analyses 
Field analyses of the area were conducted in 
July/August 1995 and January/February 1996 to 
formulate the land cover/use classification scheme. At 
specific points, coordinates were acquired using a 
global positioning system (GPS) and photographs 
were taken to record the land cover/use. Sixty-eight 
points were located representing a wide variety of 
land covers. 
2.3 Thematic Classification 
Abbreviated spectral reflectance curves for various 
land cover/use categories were produced from the 
1995 TM image. These spectral reflectance curves 
were then matched with similar reflectance curves 
from the 1986 TM and MSS images. From these 
curves it was determined that the following land 
cover/use classes could be determined with a high 
degree of certainty: 
I. Agriculture/grassland 
II. Scrub - areas dominated by low woody vegetation 
III. Early secondary growth - young trees 
IV. Advanced secondary and primary forest 
V. Villages 
Supervised classification of the images involved TM 
bands 3, 4 ,5 and 7, and MSS bands 1, 2, 3, and 4. 
Where villages could not be spectrally distinguished 
from the surrounding terrain, they were digitized from 
the topographic maps and registered to the classified 
images. All data files were rectified to UTM 
coordinates using control obtained from the 1:50,000 
scale topographic maps. 
2.4 Digital Database Construction 
The raster classification images were then converted 
to ARC/INFO vector format through on-screen 
digitizing utilizing the DMS software. All other 
information required to complete the database were 
digitized from existing maps. Overlay functions were 
performed in ARC/INFO to identify the land 
cover/use changes that occurred between 1986 and 
1993. 
812 
3. RESULTS 
Image analyses reveal that the amount of forest land 
has decreased during the period 1986 through 1995 in 
the southern and western portions of the Reserve. In 
these areas forest is being converted to agricultural 
land. Most of the conversions are occurring around 
villages that act as focus points for settlement and 
along roads and rivers that are the main transportation 
routes into the reserve. Behind the agricultural 
frontier, small areas are undergoing natural succession 
to scrub and early secondary forest. 
4. CONCLUSION 
This study has shown the feasibility of conducting 
land cover/use change analyses from remotely sensed 
imagery as part of a comprehensive plan for the 
management of tropical forests. The digital database 
will be provided to the Nicaraguan government and 
form the foundation of the Reserve’s management 
plan. Its use will enable the placement of realistic 
boundaries for zones allocated to specific activities. 
5. REFERENCES 
Bowermaster, J. 1995. Heaven Can Wait. Nature 
Conservancy, May/June pp. 10-15. 
Nietschmann, B. 1990. Conservation by Conflict in 
Nicaragua. Natural History, 11, pp. 42-48. 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996 
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