Dr. Kevin Muhamad Lukman, a lecturer at the Padjadjaran University Graduate School, and a team of researchers from Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines, published a new study in the journal Regional Studies in Marine Science (Elsevier) entitled “Identifying changes in mangrove landscapes in the Philippines and Indonesia using remote sensing and community perceptions: Towards ecosystem services management.” This research is one of the most comprehensive studies combining a spatial approach based on satellite imagery with social analysis through local community perceptions to understand changes in mangrove forest cover.

The study revealed significant changes in mangrove landscapes in two key locations: Balangkayan (Philippines) and Muara Gembong (Indonesia). In Balangkayan, mangrove cover increased by approximately 500 hectares between 2014 and 2021, as a recovery from damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Meanwhile, in Muara Gembong, mangrove cover increased by approximately 176 hectares between 2000 and 2022, primarily on land previously converted to fishponds.

Using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) data from remote sensing imagery and interviews with local communities, this study successfully identified direct and indirect drivers of mangrove cover change, such as coastal erosion and tropical cyclones. This approach resulted in site-specific mapping that provides in-depth insights into the management of ecosystem services in coastal areas, particularly in the context of blue carbon and climate change adaptation.

This research strengthens the evidence that conservation strategies that integrate spatial technology with local knowledge have significant potential to more effectively respond to the challenges of coastal ecosystem degradation. This is particularly relevant in the context of coastal areas vulnerable to natural disasters and human pressures.

Contribution to the SDGs:
This research directly supports SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life on Earth), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities and Cities). The participatory approach used also represents best practice in supporting SDG 17 (Global Partnerships).