Forest reclamation mapping of arid pastures in the eastern Stavropol Krai was carried out. This work determined the spatial distribution of soil contours, open sand areas, sora depressions, and salt marshes, the distribution of groundwater with varying salinity, the moisture content of the territory, and other phytoecological conditions based on the interpretation of remote sensing and open source data. Mapping was based on the identification of landscape elements and pasture conditions using visual interpretation of Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 and -9 satellite images. Accuracy of identifying saline areas and open sand areas was over 95%, as confirmed by field verification. Resulting contours of forest reclamation categories, provinces, subtypes, and types were used to determine the location of 25 allotments and their distribution across the landscape. Against the backdrop of changing climatic conditions (increasing frequency and intensification of dust storms, climate aridization), as well as the explosive growth of open sands and seed desertification, the timely updating of forest reclamation maps is of great importance for the formation of an up-to-date set of measures to combat desertification and enrich arid pastures.
Kulik et al. (Mon,) studied this question.