Recent advances in mangrove studies using remote sensing data

This paper summarizes present capabilities in studying mangrove vegetation from space. There is no standard image processing method that can be applied for the identification and delineation of coastal ecosystems. From a spectral point of view, it is practically impossible to characterize each of the sixty species of trees and shrubs that constitute the mangroves of the world. Nevertheless, some possibilities exist to map at global and at local scales mangrove areas from satellite products, combining several space data sets, interpretation of aerial photographs and ground surveys. The monitoring of mangroves can be considered as operational at a local level using remote sensing techniques, whereas monitoring of these ecosystems at global or at regional levels has not yet been achieved.