Summary: This study focused on habitat characterization of a significant area of the Biosphere Reserve Terras do Minho (corresponding to the unit scenic Upper Basin River Minho) located in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula in the Atlantic Region Biogeographic , is part of the European context in the problems associated with the implementation of the directives Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Directive on Protection of Birds (79/409/EEC), as well as the launch the Natura 2000 network and agreements such as the European Convention on Landscape. In this context there are problems mainly associated with data capture, maintenance, management and monitoring of protected sites and the need to develop effective and objective tool for the management of these places as well as parala management and conservation of the landscape, which has been recognized as a key component in the quality of life of the population. The management and monitoring of areas of concern involving not only the development and regular updating of maps that take into account the added value of information on environmental performance, but also the development of assessment tools integration. The purpose of this study is the implementation and validation of data and different techniques in remote sensing and GIS mapping and dynamic habitat, as well as validation of valuation methods. It was considered optimal use of Landsat scenes (TM and ETM +) acquired at different stations to improve ratings of the various classes of inhabitest, covering a cycle fenológico annulled by different units considered. This would have employed four Landsat images that cover the time span of one year, in the various tests of current classifications, and an image Landsat
1990 for the analysis of changes. It analyzes and discusses a methodology that seeks to characterize and assess trends in the habitats of the study area, raised in three phases: 1-Identification, classification and mapping units with ecological significance (environmental units and hábitas) based on the use of remote sensing data to develop an analysis on three axes decision include: evaluation of the use of lagoritmos parametric and no-paramétricos, both in analysis uni-temporal habitat, together with the various possibilities for the inclusion of original bands, auxiliary variables and information the process of classification. 2-Tracking genetic changes that affect the kinds of habitats, and by extension that have taken place in the landscape, along with relatively large periods of time, based on the use of remote sensing data and by developing lagoritmos hybrids . 3-Valuation of changes affecting the pattern of the landscape, its causes and its impact on the ecological process (in terms of loss of biodiversity and environmental value) based on the use of remote sensing data and indicators. It is concluded that the different techniques of remote sensing and GIS applied throughout this study in the analysis of landscape unit called Account High River Minho have developed an objective methodology, and operational capacity and potential to be repeated, which is considered extrapolates to other areas of the Atlantic region Biogeographic characterized by the presence of an important component of the natural landscape, as well as the presence of a component of the cultural landscape that still retains its traditional character in a meaningful way.
