EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF REWETTING PEATBOGS IN TVER OBLAST ON THE BASIS OF REMOTE SENSING DATA 

T. V. Orlov^1,* and K. L. Shakhmatov^2,**

¹ Sergeev Institute of Environmental Geoscience RAS, Ulanskii per. 13, str. 2, Moscow, 101000 Russia
² Tver State Technological University, nab. Af. Nikitina 22, Tver, 170026 Russia
*E-mail: tim.orlov@gmail.com
**E-mail: krl81@list.ru 

A huge number of drained peatbogs are preserved in the central part of Russia, which affect the environment and create a wildfire hazard. Peatbog rewetting project was launched in 2010. Rewetting is a rather long process, although some results may be already assessed now. The main assessment methods include remote sensing, i.e., the analysis of satellite images and those obtained from minor pilotless aerial vehicles. This research is aimed at the comparative use of different remote sensing methods in analyzing the vegetation dynamics on the surface of rewetted peatlands. The object of the study is the Orshinskiy mokh bog in Tver oblast, where peat was developed earlier. The information was obtained from 7 satellites, such as Corona, Landsat 1–5, 7, 8, Sentinel, etc., as well as quadrocopter DJI Phantom 4. The data were analyzed since 1970s, when peatbog was developed, and up to 2019, 5 years after the rewetting project started. The current situation was assessed at all hydraulic facilities. Also, the NDVI index was applied for assessing the dynamics of vegetation regrowth. As compared to 2016, the results showed a 15.6% increase in the areas with new vegetation and a 3.5% increase in the open-water area within the study territory. This also correlates with a decrease in the number of wildfire sources from 600 to zero. 

Key words: remote sensing, peat bog, rewetting, wildfire hazard 

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