This technical extension guide explains practical methods for measuring vegetation cover on sloping land to support sustainable land management, soil conservation, and agroforestry development. The document was developed by projects implemented by World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Vietnam. Vegetation cover is defined as the proportion of land covered by green plants such as grasses, shrubs, and trees, which helps reduce soil erosion, improve soil stability, increase organic matter, retain water, and reduce surface runoff. The guide introduces two simple assessment methods. The first uses digital photography and the free ImageJ software to analyze green vegetation cover through image processing. The second uses a 1×1 meter reference frame and visual comparison charts for rapid field estimation. These methods are designed for farmers, extension workers, and researchers working in mountainous and sloping agricultural landscapes in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
