GIS-based estimation of wetland conservation potentials in Europe

Abstract

In the EU socio-economic considerations and economic activities play an important part in land use management and conservation planning. However, conservation studies that offer high-accuracy landscape information at the European level are often recommended by policy makers, but rarely realized. This study contributes to this problem by optimal combination of existing spatial datasets to obtain the spatial distribution of wetlands by definition of flexible knowledge rules. The resulting distribution model distinguishes between existing wetlands and sites suitable for wetland restoration at 1 km resolution. It differentiates several wetland types and covers 37 European countries. The results of the model may help to locate sites suitable for restoration programs, or for the introduction of faunistic corridors. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.