MAMAFOREST - Managing Mangrove Forests with Optical and Radar Environmental SaTellites

Context and objectives

For mangrove forests, the development of robust remote sensing methods for mapping and monitoring their biophysical properties is becoming increasingly important as anthropogenic processes (e.g., pollution) and events (e.g., clearance) lead to significant losses across their range.  For maximum benefit however, focus needs to be on the integration of temporal data from both optical and radar sensors as each provides unique but complementary information on mangroves. The main goal of this project therefore is to establish how the use of radar and optical remote sensing data can be optimised for quantifying the changing extent, structure, species composition and above ground biomass (AGB) of mangroves, with specific focus on the expansive mangroves within the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (MMFR) in Malaysia.  This area has been silviculturally managed since 1902 and the areal extent of mangroves has changed very little. Most of the silviculture takes place in the productive forest, whereas several types of protected forest constitute the protective forest. Time series of optical and radar remote sensing data will be used to evaluate the viability and sustainability of logging. Comparisons will be made between productive and protective forests.