On the possibility of usage of GIS for ecological damage evaluation, demonstrated on example of the wind calamity in the High Tatra National Park

Abstract

The article presents methodology and results of ecological damage evaluation carried out with using the Geographic Information System (GIS). The concerned ecological damage was caused by the wind calamity impacted the most part of the High Tatra National Park (TANAP) in November 2004. The ecological damage to mountain forests has been evaluated by the ecosystem method called Quantification and Evaluation of Forest Functions (VYSKOT, 2003) as empowering (reduction) of the ecosystem functions resulting from the wind calamity having caused the damage. There have also been determined me damage categories and their presence in the forest stands. The GIS was used in the first step for the extensive data set processing; in the second step for some special analyses. The GIS software special analyses were applied in multi criteria evaluation of forest stands resistance to wind ecological damage, where different parameters of forest stand biotic and abiotic conditions were combined. The results presented in the article show evidence of powerful usage of GIS software for analyses connected with ecological damage evaluation.