A CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL AMERICAN VEGETATION AND ECOREGIONS

A comprehensive,standardized,and thematically appropriate map of Central American vegetation and landcover types was developed by classifying the remote sensed imagery(AVHRR)1km² resolution using advanced digital image processing routines and expertise.The map identifies 17 remaining natural vegetation types.The classification accuracy of the map is estimated to exceed 80%.Using a GAP analysis approach,a map of existing and proposed protected areas was overlaid on the vegetation map to analyze the protection status of vegetation types and Ecoregions.