Russian peat bogs afforestation dynamics assessment based on satellite monitoring data

The climate regulating potential of Russian peat bogs are considering primarily as a huge reservoir of organic carbon accumulated in various soil horizons. At the same time, due to limited economic value the sparse forests and other woody vegetation of peat bogs is poorly studied. However, forest trees and other woody vegetation growing on peatlands are occupying big area and integrally may provide a significant contribution to the absorption of carbon dioxide. The results of satellite observations indicate the processes of afforestation of open peat bogs in different regions of Russia. A systematic study of these processes for entire Russia was based on satellite monitoring data for the period of the years 2001–2024. It was estimated that the area of open peat bogs annually identified over the country varies in the range of 121.5–129.5 million hectares. At the same time, the dynamics of their area is characterized by a downward trend at about 346 000 hectares per year, and in the period of the years 2011–2024, the magnitude of this negative trend reached 622 000 hectares per year. The area of peat bogs covered with forests and sparse trees increased during this period by 5.5 million hectares, and its average annual increase was estimated at about 241 000 hectares per year.