INTRODUCTION
As human and natural forces modify the landscape, resource agencies find it increasingly important to monitor and assess these alterations. Changes in vegetation affect wildlife habitat, fire conditions, aesthetic and historical values and ambient air quality. These changes, in turn, influence management and policy decisions. Methods for monitoring vegetation change range from intensive field sampling with plot inventories to extensive analysis of remotely sensed data. While aerial photography can detect change over relatively small areas at reasonable cost, satellite imagery has proven more cost effective for large regions.