Monitoring the growth of naturally regenerated vegetation after Typhoon Durian based on satellite image analysis

Abstract

Mangrove forests distributed in tropical and subtropical coastal areas are unique ecosystems and are very sensitive to changing environments. Mangrove forests are considered as a solid green wall to protect the coast, sea dykes, limit landslides and the harmful effects of typhoons. However, the area of mangrove forests in Vietnam is currently being seriously degraded, not only affecting human activities but also causing natural disasters such as typhoons and floods. On that edge, the impact of climate change makes the frequency and intensity of natural disasters from the sea increasingly high. The Typhoon Durian made landfall in the southern region of Vietnam, including Can Gio on April 12, 2006, caused many serious and dangerous damages, including many forest trees in Long Hoa commune that had been completely broken. The objective of this study is to use available satellite image data (SPOT, Landsat, Sentinel, and Google Earth) to generate forest maps from 2007 (after Typhoon Durian) to the present to assess the natural recovery rate in the areas affected by the typhoon in different conditions. The results can help foresters or environmentalists to build future forest status forums in the area.