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Derived data product DEA Mangrove Canopy Cover

  • See mangrove cover expand and retract

  • Explore remote mangrove forests along the entire coast

  • Capture canopy changes since 1987

satellite image of branching green landscape showing blue water
Updated
Annually
Satellite data from
Landsat
Data since
1987
Released
2021

Quick links

See mangroves on the move

Tracking changes in the extent and canopy density of mangroves, Digital Earth Australia (DEA) Mangrove Canopy Cover reveals how these extraordinary trees may be responding to sea level rise, severe tropical cyclones, drought, climatic cycles, changing temperatures and large storm events

satellite image of branching fluorescent green waterways on brown land near coast

The product reveals extensive that since 1988, mangroves have encroached into the Northern Territory’s Mary River region

man in waders and floppy hat crouches in mangrove shallows making notes

Mangroves not only act as nursery grounds for commercially important fish and prawns, and habitat for birds, they’re also critical to coastal protection and carbon storage

mangrove roots exposed in sand at low tide

The product provides a sequence of 25 m resolution annual maps and breaks canopy into three classes according to the greenness of satellite image pixels

Why monitor mangroves with satellites?

  • Get visibility on remote and inaccessible mangrove outcrops

  • Measure and track the diverse ecosystem benefits of mangrove forests

  • Help to translate the economic benefits of mangroves into policy

  • Improve understanding of how mangroves adapt to and recover from environmental events

Aerial view of deep green mangrove forest and curving creek

Imagery for impact Mangroves on the move

Thirty years of Landsat data maps the nationwide movement and migration of Australia’s mangrove forests

Related resources

colourful image of mangrove in water at pink sunset

Journal article

‘Mapping the multi-decadal mangrove dynamics of the Australian coastline’

Journal article Read the paper
Green and white sandy landmass protruding from blue ocean

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DEA Coastlines, DEA Intertidal and DEA High and Low Tide imagery provide new perspectives on critical coastal environments

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