Remote Sensing based habitat maps as guide for optimal spatial allocation of Nature-based Solutions in agricultural areas
Lori Giagnacovo, Tijana Nikolic Lugonja, Branko Brkljač, Mirjana Radulovic
Earth Observation plays a crucial role in targeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ‘Zero Hunger’ and ‘Life on Land’. As global efforts intensify to meet these objectives, the need for openly accessible remote sensing data and capacity building in its use becomes ever more pressing. As Serbia is ranked as the most climate-vulnerable country in Europe, SONATA project aims to enhance knowledge transfer and skill development to combat future climate change impacts. For the first time, SONATA intends to establish a sustainable habitat mapping service for Serbian stakeholders. The project specifically examines habitats within and around agricultural landscapes, exploring how habitat mapping can inform the optimal allocation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). To achieve this, EO data products, along with additional biophysical, topographic and contextual datasets will be used as features in a machine learning and AI driven habitat mapping workflow to create high resolution EUNIS habitat maps of the Vojvodina region. VITO’s habitat mapping workflow will be integrated into the openEO platform, while additional knowledge transfer on utilizing the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) will be provided through workshops and on-site sessions. The resulting habitat maps will feed into a spatial decision-support tool designed to optimize ecosystem services—such as food production, pollinator diversity, and carbon sequestration—by assessing different NbS strategies and their spatial configurations. This tool will help farmers identify the best NbS placement within their parcels to maximize ecosystem benefits based on priorities. Additionally, it will provide policymakers with valuable insights into the role of NbS in conservation efforts and the long-term sustainability of agricultural activities under climate change.
