Potentials and pitfalls of applying consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicles for the inventory of Zagros forests, Iran

Forest measurement in semi-arid ecosystems and protective stands like Zagros forests is essential for collecting primary information as well as those related to biometrical, ecological and conservational aspects. While the access, time, logistics, financial and lack of trained staff hamper the timely and frequent implementation of forest inventory projects in Zagros, using data and methods based on consumer-grade unmanned aerial vehicles will be discussed here as an alternative or supplement to conventional forest inventories. The challenges and opportunities related to such UAV data in its basic configuration (nadir flight, RGB image composites images and fixed gimbal) will be briefly reviewed and discussed in connection with the basic primary and secondary variables of forest inventory in Zagros. The findings and suggestions here are aimed to facilitate the decision-making of practical sector managers and researchers within the Zagros region.