Vegetation cover dynamics mapping of the Curonian Spit National Park usingsatellite imagery Alos and Sentinel-2

A decade-long increase in vegetation cover and stabilization of dunes along the Curonian Spit National Park's shore adjacent to the Kurish Lagoon, alongside a decline in forest density and expansion of mobile sands on its seaward side, has been quantified using high-resolution satellite data from ALOS and Sentinel-2. This shift reflects successful afforestation efforts near the lagoon but highlights coastal erosion driven by wind-wave action and recreational pressure near the sea. Researchers employed automated classification algorithms—Random Forest and Maximum Likelihood Estimation—to map ecosystem metrics such as forest cover, coniferous tree proportions, and sand dynamics from 2007 to 2017. The study underscores the potential of remote sensing for monitoring complex vegetation structures and guiding conservation strategies in UNESCO-listed landscapes.

Nikitina, A. D., Knyazeva, S. V., Gavrilyuk, E. A., Tikhonova, E. V., Eydlina, S. P., Koroleva, N. V.,. (2019). Vegetation cover dynamics mapping of the Curonian Spit National Park usingsatellite imagery Alos and Sentinel-2. Forest Science Issues, 2(3), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.31509/2658-607x-2019-2-3-1-21