OWETIS

Observation of local Wetland areas from Satellite Imaging

2016. nov. 1. – 2018. okt. 31.

Külső azonosító

ESA Hungary Industry Incentive Scheme

Költségvetés

SZTAKI költségvetése

Támogatás mértéke %

100

A projekt célja a kis kiterjedésű, változó környezetű vizes élőhelyek vizsgálata, melyek fontos részét képzik az ökoszisztémának és kiemelt a szerepük a biodiverzitás megőrzésében, mivel számos növény- és állatfajnak biztosítanak életteret. Ezek az élőhelyek önmagukban kicsik, ám ökológiai jelentőségük miatt a feltérképezésük és védelmük fontos feladat. Ökológiai szempontból ezen életterek főszerepet játszanak Magyarország és a Kárpát-medence biodiverzitásának megőrzésében.

English abstract:

While large extensive wetlands, such as those on lake shores are in focus of monitoring and conservation, small patches of wetland vegetation in the mosaic of the landscape receive far less attention: in many cases their extent and location are not known precisely as they are smaller than the typical scale of regional vegetation mapping. Meanwhile, these small backcountry wetlands are especially important as they are often the last undisturbed habitats in landscapes extensively modified by agriculture and urbanization, and as such provide sanctuaries and “stepping stones” for wildlife sensitive to human presence. They also play an important role in regulating water quality and quantity through pollution absorption, groundwater recharge and flood retention. Therefore, backcountry wetlands are essential elements of green infrastructures.
Moreover, Hungary in the Carpathian basin has a special river and wetland structure, where we have remaining wetland habitat patches reduced from large continuous areas of the last centuries or maybe from ancient time when the whole basin was a great wetland area. The remaining great habitats function as natural reserve areas (Natura 2000 habitats), but the tracing and tracking of the small habitats should be the next important step in the protection of biodiversity in Hungary.
Small wetland patches are prone to rapid change depending on local water and management conditions, therefore up to date information is necessary for their assessment and protection.