Mapping the Causes of Mangrove Loss

A joint NASA-USGS initiative has created the first worldwide map of the causes of change in mangrove habitats between 2000 and 2016. Mangrove trees can be found growing in the salty mud along the Earth’s tropical and subtropical coastlines.

Why Mangroves are Vital to Aquatic Ecosystems

Mangroves, a source of blue carbon, are vital to aquatic ecosystems due to their ability to prevent soil erosion and store carbon.

Mangroves also provide critical habitat to multiple marine species such as algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters.

Mangroves are threatened by both human and natural causes. Human activities in the form of farming and aquaculture and natural stressors such as erosion and extreme weather have both driven mangrove habitat loss.

Using Landsat to Map Mangrove Loss

The joint study analyzed over one million Landsat images captured between 2000 and 2016 to create the first-ever global map visualizing the drivers of mangrove loss. Causes of mangrove loss were mapped at a resolution of 30 meters.

Researchers found that 62% of mangrove loss during the time period studied was due to land use changes, mostly from conversion to aquaculture and agriculture.

Roughly 80% of the loss was concentrated in six Southeast Asian nations:  Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Mangrove loss due to human activities did decline 73% between 2000 and 2016. Mangrove loss due to natural events also decreased but at a lessor rate than human-led activities.

Mangrove Loss Map

The map can be viewed in detail by visiting the Drivers of Global Mangrove Loss app built using Google Earth Engine.

The Study

Goldberg, L., Lagomasino, D., Thomas, N., & Fatoyinbo, T. (2020). Global declines in human‐driven mangrove loss. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15275

Merzdorf, J. (2020, August 17). NASA study maps the roots of global mangrove loss. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/nasa-study-maps-the-roots-of-global-mangrove-loss

Related

• Mangrove Ecosystems’ Importance and Vulnerability to Climate Change
• 53% of U.S. Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Waters are Unmapped
• Flooding Can Help Protect Wetlands From Climate Change