Measurement of Mangrove Biophysical Characteristics in the Bocozelle Ecosystem in Haiti Using ASTER Multispectral Data

Abstract

Coastal mangrove vegetation in Haiti continues to be threatened and diminished consistently due to uncontrolled logging. Research on Haitian mangroves is required to monitor their state and ensure their sustainable management. Indeed, planners and resource managers have a critical need for accurate inventories of mangrove communities and their biophysical characteristics. This study was performed to assess the usefulness of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data for predicting mangrove biophysical variables. In situ data, such as tree height, diameter at breast height, leaf‐area index (LAI), and percent canopy closure were collected in 32 plots (10 × 10 m) along nine (9) transects located perpendicular to the shoreline in July, 2005. The data were correlated and regressed with remote sensing‐derived vegetation indices determined from an ASTER image acquired on July 18, 2005. All the vegetation parameters were found to have strong correlation with the indices. In particular, percent canopy closure and LAI had correlations of 0.851 and 0.908 with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), respectively. This research supports the utility of remote sensing data for mangrove biophysical investigations, especially for determining the percent canopy closure and leaf area index which are respectively indirect estimations of tree density and vegetation biomass.