XVI International Botanical Congess

Study on the use of advanced remote sensing technology for assessment of the state of piedmont rangelands was conducted in Kazakstan. Photographs of camera Wild Heerburg and digital data of multispectral scanner Daedalus have been used. Land cover classification has been developed on the basis of supervised classification result and field data. Maps of actual vegetation, potential vegetation and assessment of anthropogenic transformation have been made by geobotanical systematization of obtained classes. Utilization of remote sensing allowed to make prompt qualitative and quantitative assessment of modern state of rangeland vegetation in arid region. These technology will significantly save time and funds required to overcome consequences of desertification in Kazakstan.