Mapping Long-Term Changes in Mangrove Species Composition and Distribution in the Sundarbans

A 38-year study of the Sundarbans mangrove forest reveals significant shifts in species composition and distribution, driven by climate change and human activities. Heritiera fomes and Excoecaria agallocha declined by nearly 10%, while Ceriops decandra, Sonneratia apetala, and Xylocarpus mekongensis saw substantial increases of 12.9%, 380.4%, and 57.3%, respectively. Using Landsat satellite imagery and maximum likelihood classification techniques, researchers achieved accuracies ranging from 72% to 89% across four time points (1977–2015). These findings underscore the vulnerability of this critical ecosystem—essential for carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and biodiversity—to ongoing environmental pressures. The study highlights the need for adaptive management strategies to sustain mangrove resources amid accelerating degradation.

Ghosh, M., Kumar, L., & Roy, C. (2016). Mapping Long-Term Changes in Mangrove Species Composition and Distribution in the Sundarbans. Forests, 7(12), 305. https://doi.org/10.3390/f7120305