The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and The Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO) have collectively revealed a guide for monitoring and managing mangroves that can higher inform decision-makers and native useful resource managers.
The guide, Remote sensing techniques for mapping and monitoring mangroves at fine scales, launched on World Mangrove Day, July 26, introduces superior distant sensing strategies geared toward enhancing the accuracy of mapping mangroves, enabling simpler coastal land use and restoration choices.
The necessity for extra science-based data on the standing and adjustments to mangroves is more and more acknowledged. Nonetheless, most present datasets depend on medium-resolution satellite tv for pc imagery, which regularly misses sparse, slender, and fringing mangroves widespread on small islands. Moreover, many international locations lack native sources and technical capability for detailed mangrove mapping and monitoring.
The guide addresses these challenges by providing complete steering for mangrove useful resource managers. It consists of the newest mapping and monitoring applied sciences, corresponding to uncrewed aerial methods, and a listing of obtainable platforms, sensors, mission planning functions, and post-processing options. The guide covers assessing mangrove situation and alter, on-line knowledge sources, and open-source software program choices for low-budget tasks.
“In a world the place distant sensing is advancing day by day, our hope is that this new guide offers mangrove managers with up-to-date data on rising distant sensing applied sciences and software program that may be utilized to handle local-scale mapping and monitoring must fill knowledge gaps in mangrove protection whereas rising accuracy,” says Dr. Steve Schill, Lead Scientist for the Caribbean at TNC and lead writer of the guide. “With the appearance of drones, the period of non-public distant sensing now offers new instruments for on-demand and cost-effective knowledge assortment that’s extremely customizable.”
Determination makers, researchers, and related stakeholders can use the guide to strengthen mitigation and adaptation methods at particular websites, and assist information native conservation efforts together with restoration planning, thereby enhancing resilience to local weather change.
Equally, TNC developed a Google Earth Engine utility, Blue Carbon Explorer, to watch adjustments in mangrove and seagrass blue carbon world wide. The Blue Carbon Explorer is a digital software for native communities and authorities leaders to establish blue carbon alternatives centered on scaling-up restoration and safety efforts on the bottom.
World mangrove protection has declined by over 20%. And though mangrove loss has decreased in latest many years, the degradation and lack of mangroves stays a risk globally. This danger poses an pressing want for exact monitoring to maintain and restore these important ecosystems.
Mangrove forests present a number of advantages for individuals and the Earth. These ecosystems are essential to offering meals and livelihoods for coastal communities, defending coastlines from erosion, filtering water, producing fish, and internet hosting wealthy biodiversity. Mangroves can sequester 4 to 10 instances extra carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. Moreover, they cut back the chance of disasters associated to storm surges, hurricanes and flooding.
By defending mangrove forest ecosystems, we assist protect ecosystem providers which can be vital advantages for native communities.
