Historical perspectives on the mangroves of Kakadu National Park

Recent research reveals significant redistribution and dieback of mangroves in Kakadu National Park. While net area changes have been minor, lower-stature mangrove species like Avicennia marina and Sonneratia alba have shown substantial shifts due to inland intrusion and seaward colonization. Aerial surveys conducted in 2016 confirmed widespread dieback, with RapidEye data indicating this occurred between late 2015 and 2016, coinciding with broader mangrove losses in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The study, utilizing historical aerial photography, CASI imagery, LIDAR, and RapidEye data, underscores the need for enhanced long-term monitoring to protect these critical coastal ecosystems.

Lucas, R., Finlayson, C. M., Bartolo, R., Rogers, K., Mitchell, A., Woodroffe, C. D., Asbridge, E., & Ens, E. (2017). Historical perspectives on the mangroves of Kakadu National Park. Marine and Freshwater Research, 69(7), 1047–1063. https://doi.org/10.1071/mf17065