Assessing the Connectivity of Riparian Forests across a Gradient of Human Disturbance: The Potential of Copernicus “Riparian Zones” in Two Hydroregions

The connectivity of riparian forests can be used as a proxy for the capacity zones to provide ecological functions, goods and services. In this study, we aim test potential freely available Copernicus “Riparian Zones” dataset characterize located in two European bioclimatic regions—the Mediterranean Central Baltic hydroregions—when subject gradient human disturbance characterized by land-use/land-cover hydromorphological pressures. We extracted patches using “Actual Riparian Zone” (ARZ) layer calculated Integral Index Connectivity (IIC). then compared results with “Manual (MRZ) layer, produced manually digitizing vegetation over very high-resolution World Imagery layer. Our research evidenced reduced forest both hydroregions, exception Least Disturbed sites hydroregion. ARZ exhibited overall suitability assess hydroregion, while hydroregion displayed consistent pattern overestimation all levels disturbance. To address this, recommend some improvements spatial resolution thematic accuracy