Geospatial modeling of the biophysical environments and mangrove biomass of the Sunda Banda Seascape, Indonesia

Abstract

Due to its marine biodiversity, the Sunda Banda Seascape (SBS) is one of the largest marine ecoregions of Indonesia requiring conservation management. However, the SBS is under severe threat due to unsustainable development and climate change. There is neither comprehensive regional spatial data nor peer-review research of the SBS available. This study is the first-ever work using satellite remote sensing, machine learning and dynamic model-assimilated data to delineate biophysical environments of the SBS, and classifies it into eight biophysically meaningful regions. The SBS also contains mangrove forests with some of the highest mangrove diversity and biomass of the world. Mangroves are critical for their ecological functions and services to human welfare. Based on the biophysical regions, this study uses bioclimatic models derived from the fifth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to estimate mangrove biomass through 2070. This study will inform conservation practices of the SBS.