Fusing optical and radar data to monitor biophysical properties

For mangrove forests, the development of robust remote sensing methods for mapping and monitoring their biophysical properties is becoming increasingly important. Anthropogenic processes (e.g., pollution) and events (e.g., clearance) lead to significant losses across their range.

MAMAFOREST therefore establishes new methods that focus on the integration of temporal data from both optical and radar sensors as each provides unique but complementary information on mangroves.
Thanks to these new, optimized methods we can obtain information and quatify changes of mangroves on:

 

 

 

 

 

  • extent
  • biomass
  • height
  • cover
  • structure
  • disturbance
  • age
  • species
  • above ground biomass (AGB)

In the MAMAFOREST project we 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 therefore changed very little.