MAPPING OF WETLAND HABITAT DIVERSITY USING SATELLITE DATA AND GIS: AN EXAMPLE FROM THE ALAM-PEDJA NATURE RESERVE, ESTONIA

.The experience of compiling a habitat map of the Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, Estonia, based on integrating remote sensing (Landsat 5 TM, aerial photos), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and national biological survey data is reported and discussed. Unsupervised and supervised classification and the maximum likelihood algorithm were used for the classification of satellite image pixels. Training polygons for justification of the classification were established after the repetitive checking of all classification units during the classification procedure. On that basis the mapping ofdifferent habitats, specific for the temperate zone and especially for Estonian nature, using a classification scheme with an emphasis on spectral separation of wetland and related forest types on satellite images was developed. The resultant map (1:50 000, Transverse Mercator Projection) includes 26 mapping units and fits rather well the Estonian habitat classification scheme. The map can be employed for land use conflict resolution, for monitoring at landscape and habitat level, as well as in biodiversity studies.