Remote sensing and GIS for wetland inventory, mapping and change analysis

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Remote Sensing
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Past wetland inventories have suffered from uncertainties and coverage gaps.
• Wetland degradation is a significant global issue, often driven by agricultural expansion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and promote a comprehensive, multi-purpose wetland inventory.
• To address uncertainties and gaps in existing wetland inventory coverage.
• To enhance global wetland management through improved data and analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a partnership approach, including the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• Employing remote sensing and GIS for data compilation and analysis.
• Conducting specific projects such as mapping Ramsar sites, assessing wetland condition in Sri Lanka, and mapping agricultural wetlands in Southern Africa.

Main Results:

• Mapping the distribution of Ramsar sites and identifying under-represented regions and wetland types.
• Quantifying wetland condition and identifying land-use trends (agriculture, sedimentation, settlement) in Sri Lanka.
• Determining land cover and inundation extent for agricultural wetlands in Southern Africa using multi-temporal satellite imagery.

Conclusions:

• A collaborative, multi-scale approach using remote sensing and GIS is effective for global wetland inventory.
• The developed inventory provides crucial data for effective wetland management and conservation.
• Capacity building is integral to the successful implementation and utilization of wetland data for management purposes.