Moving from a landscape footprint to spatial thumbprint: Applying remote sensing to create unique signatures of household-level land use

Earth-observation (EO) data provides a valuable landscape-level perspective on changing land-cover patterns and processes. Conservation efforts that successfully leverage EO data for human and natural system management, must link EO-based analyses to land-use activities contributing to well-being, often captured by human data. We present an interdisciplinary approach for connecting household survey data to remotely-sensed analyses by mapping areas that households rely on for non-timber forest products. Linking resource areas to remotely-sensed observations is discussed within the context of the world’s largest terrestrial conservation area for better monitoring, planning, and decision making regarding the shared space for humans and wildlife.