Linking the structural parameters of a priority Natura 2000 grassland to SAR and optical data

Pseudo-steppe with grasses hosts a variety of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates; this typically Mediterranean habitat is currently under the protection of the EU Habitat Directive as priority habitat type n° 6220, with several hosting sites being included in the Natura2000 network. Considering the stresses imposed by land use change and climate impacts, especially in southern Italy, monitoring the extent, structural and physiological parameters of this habitat over space and time is crucial to implement proper conservation and planning strategies. In this study, multispectral and SAR data have been linked to habitat extent and structural parameters in different sites in the Apulia region (southern Italy), where field calibration and validation data were collected in spring and summer 2024, to investigate the value of different remote sensing data in supporting habitat conservation within the Natura 2000 network.