Forest Reclamation Mapping of Arid Pastures on the Example of the Eastern Regions of Stavropol Region

Forest reclamation mapping of arid pastures in the east of the Stavropol Region was carried out, for which the spatial position of soil contours, open sand massifs, sediment depressions and salt marshes, groundwater mineralization, humidification of the territory and other phytocological conditions was determined based on the decryption of remote sensing and open data. The mapping is based on the determination of landscape elements and pasture conditions using visual decoding of Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8, 9 satellite images, while the accuracy of decoding saline areas and open sands was more than 95%, which was confirmed by field verification. The contours of forest reclamation categories, provinces, subtypes, and types were obtained, on the basis of which the position of 25 allotments and their distribution in the landscapes of the studied areas were determined. Against the background of changing climatic conditions (increased frequency and intensification of dust storms, climate aridization), as well as the explosive growth of open sands and seed desertification, 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.