Enhancing Wetland Conservation Efforts through High Resolution Soil Moisture monitoring using C-Band Sentinel and Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor in the Andes of Bolivia

In the Andes region of Bolivia (Potosi), wetlands form unique ecosystems that provide a range of vital ecological services, including water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration. However, climate change is having a significant impact on these ecosystems highlighting the need for effective conservation efforts. One approach to enhance wetland conservation is through the use of advanced monitoring technologies such as high resolution soil moisture monitoring using Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor technology integrated with C-Band Sentinel satellite imagery. C-Band Sentinel is satellite imagery used for a wide range of applications, including land and water management in agriculture. In wetlands, C-Band Sentinel data can be used for soil moisture monitoring. The Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor (CRNS) technology used to estimate soil moisture (SM) content at the landscape level (up to 20 to 30 ha). This technology has proven to be a valid, robust technology able to support decision making in agricultural water management. Additionally, the CRNS technology fills the critical gap between satellites and point-scale ground sensors. By doing so, it allows for the calibration of microwave earth observation satellites data and improve the accuracy of water content data estimated by remote sensing (Said et al., 2021).