Potential Peatland Environments in Libya: Ecosystem Assessment and Sustainable Management Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36602/Keywords:
Peatlands, Remote Sensing, GIS, Ecosystem Services, Sustainable DevelopmentAbstract
Peatlands are valuable wetland ecosystems that provide a wide range of services, from carbon storage and water to biodiversity and climate regulation. While Libya is mainly an arid country, some areas with a permanent or seasonal water surplus, depressions, wetlands, lagoons, oases, and periodically saturated grounds may generate conditions suitable for the formation of peat and organic soils. The current study was conducted to evaluate the potential peatland areas in Libya using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) analysis. The study used Sentinel 2 normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), Sentinel 1 backscatter, digital elevation model (DEM), topographic wetness index (TWI), slope, elevation, drainage accumulation, closed depressions, proximity to wetlands, and water persistence data. The data were combined in a GIS environment using a multi-criteria approach to assess the potential peatland index (PPI) and identify the areas with the most suitable conditions for peatland formation. The study found that the highest potential peatland areas were associated with coastal lagoons, wetlands, sabkhas, shallow depressions, inland oases, and other water bodies with a consistent moisture surplus and appropriate geomorphological conditions. These areas were found near the Farwa Lagoon, Tawergha, Benghazi wetlands, Qasr Ahmed Lagoon, Ain al-Ghazala, and other inland wetlands. The potential peatland areas in Libya were found to be closely linked to water sources, low topographic positions, vegetation, and surface moisture. Peatlands in these areas could serve as significant carbon reservoirs, provide water and habitat for biodiversity, and protect the local community from droughts and floods. However, the current study only identified the areas with the potential for peatland formation. Further research is needed to confirm the presence of peat deposits and assess their characteristics, such as depth, carbon content, and hydrological regime. The current findings may help understand the distribution of peatlands in Libya and support the development of conservation and management strategies for these valuable ecosystems.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Osama Rahil Shaltami، Hamza Al Matoni، Ramzi Salem (Author)
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