Estimation of mangrove carbon stocks from remote sensing  and field survey-based data in Nghe An province

Nguyen Khac Manh; Nguyen Hai Hoa; Ngo Van Thanh Anh Tri; Nguyen Huu Quang Vinh; Nguyen Ngoc Linh; Nguyen Thu Thuy; Vu Van Truong; Nguyen Viet Duong; Nguyen Thi Hai Van

doi:10.55250/Jo.vnuf.10.2.2025.081-091

Authors

Nguyen Khac Manh Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Hai Hoa Vietnam National University of Forestry
Ngo Van Thanh Anh Tri Loc Ninh Forest Protection Board, Dong Nai Province
Nguyen Huu Quang Vinh Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Ngoc Linh Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Thu Thuy Vietnam National University of Forestry
Vu Van Truong Vietnam National University of Forestry
Nguyen Viet Duong Ben En National Park, Thanh Hoa province
Nguyen Thi Hai Van Ha Noi University (HANU)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55250/Jo.vnuf.10.2.2025.081-091

Keywords:

AGC (Above-ground carbon), BGC (below-ground carbon), Nghe An, PlanetScope, Sentinel-2A

Abstract

Mangrove forests mainly grow in tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, coastal Africa, Latin America, and parts of Australia, which provide critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection from storms, shoreline stabilization, and carbon sequestration. This study determined the locations of mangrove cover, then estimated the biomass and carbon stocks of mangrove forests in Nghe An by integrating multi-source satellite imageries and field measurements. Sentinel-2A and PlanetScope multispectral images were used in combination with field inventory to characterize mangrove structures and their extent. The findings revealed that the total of AGB and BGB of mangrove forest was estimated at 109,824 tons and 31,849 tons, while the total of AGC and BGC of mangrove forests was calculated at 51,617 tons and 14,967 tons in 2025 by Sentinel-2, respectively. The total of ACS across the surveyed area sums up to 51,998 tons in 2025. The study highlights the need for nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change, including Carbon Payment for Forest Environmental Services (C-PFES), Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). Besides fighting back climate changes, these approaches can also create financial incentives for local stakeholders to maintain and restore mangrove forests. Furthermore, it is essential to strengthen existing policies as well as revise policy frameworks that recognize the ecological and economic values of mangrove in Nghe An province.

References

[1]. Holguin, G., Vazquez, P. & Bashan, Y. (2001). The role of sediment microorganisms in productivity, conservation, and rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems: An overview. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 33: 265–278.

[2]. Duke, N. (1992). Mangrove floristics and biogeography. In A. Robertson (Ed.), Tropical Mangrove Ecosystems (63–100). American Geophysical Union.

[3]. Patil, V., Singh, A., Naik, N. & Unnikrishnan S. (2015). Estimation of mangrove carbon stocks by applying remote sensing and GIS techniques. Wetlands. 35: 695–707. DOI: 10.1007/s13157-015-0660-4

[4]. Li, Z., Zan, Q., Yang, Q., Zhu, D., Chen, Y. & Yu, S. (2019). Remote estimation of mangrove aboveground carbon stock at the species level using a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle system. Remote Sensing. 11(9): 1018.

[5]. Thomas, N., Lucas, R., Bunting, P., Hardy, A., Rosenqvist, A. & Simard, M. (2017). Distribution and drivers of global mangrove forest change. 1996–2010. PLoS ONE, 12(6), e0179302.

[6]. Bunting, P., Rosenqvist, A., Hilarides, L., Lucas, R.M., Thomas, N., Tadono, T., Worthington, T.A., Spalding, M., Murray, N.J. & Rebelo, L.M. (2022). Global mangrove extent change 1996–2020: global mangrove watch version 3.0. Remote Sens. 14 : 3657.

DOI: 10.3390/rs14153657.

[7]. Le, L.T. (2008). Effect of Hydrology on the Structure and Function of Mangrove Ecosystems in the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. PhD Dissertation. Louisiana State University, US. 208.

[8]. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. (2021). Decision No. 1558/QĐ-BNN-TCLN dated April 13, 2021, on the announcement of the national forest status in 2020. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.

[9]. Gilman, E., Ellison, J., Duke, N. & Field, C. (2008). Threats to mangroves from climate change and adaptation options: a review. Aquat. Bot. 89 : 237–250.

[10]. Ellison, J.C. & Zouh, I. (2012). Vulnerability to Climate Change of Mangroves: Assessment from Cameroon. Cent. Afr. Biol. 1 : 617–638.

[11]. Nong, N.B., Ha, V.H. T. & Le, H.N. (2024). Understanding about mangrove forest management in Vietnam. In V. Padmakumar & M. Shanthakumar (Eds.), Mangroves in a Changing World: Adaptation and Resilience.

[12]. Nguyen, H.T.T., Hardy, G. E. S., Le, T.V., Nguyen, H.Q., Nguyen, H. H. & Nguyen, T. V. (2021). Mangrove forest landcover changes in coastal Vietnam: A case study from 1973 to 2020 in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. Forests. 12(5): 637.

[13]. Drusch, M., Del Bello, U., Carlier, S., Colin, O., Fedele, A., Gascon, F. & Bargellini, P. (2012). Sentinel-2: ESA's optical high-resolution mission for GMES operational services. Remote Sensing of Environment. 120: 25–36.

[14]. Krishnamoorthy, R., Tanaka, K.& Begum, M.A. (2025). Integrating GIS-Remote Sensing: A comprehensive approach to predict oceanographic health and coastal dynamics. Remote Sensing of Environment. 8: 200–212.

[15]. Campbell, J.B., Wynne, R.H., Shao, Y. & Phan, S.V. (2019). Drought and Human Impacts on Land Use and Land Cover Change in a Vietnamese Coastal Area. Remote Sensing. 11(3): 333.

DOI : 10.3390/rs11030333

[16]. Rouse, J.W., Hass, R.H., Schell, J.A. & Deering, D.W. (1974). Monitoring vegetation systems in the GreatPlains with ERTS. 3rd ERTS Symposium , NASA SP-351, Washington DC, 10-14 December 1973, 309-317.

[17]. Hai-Hoa, N., D., Quang, V., Dai Nguyen, V.K., Linh, V.K. & Manh, N.K. (2020). Estimation of mangrove carbon stocks using Sentinel-2A and field-based data in Tien Lang district, Hai Phong city. Journal of Forestry Science and Technology. 10: 048–058.

[18]. Jaelani, L.M., Safitri, D.S., Kristian, N.E., Alina, A.N., Syariz, M.A., Sanjaya, H. & Rasam, A.R.A. (2025). Mapping mangrove species distribution and density using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and spectral analysis. Journal of Human Earth and Future. 6(1) : 1–11. DOI : 10.28991/hef-2025-06-01-01

[19]. Ghorbanian, A., Zaghian, S., Asiyabi, R.M., Amani, M., Mohammadzadeh, A. & Jamali, S. (2021). Mangrove Ecosystem Mapping Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Satellite Images and Random Forest Algorithm in Google Earth Engine. Remote Sensing. 13(13): 2565. DOI : 10.3390/rs13132565

[20]. Komiyama, A., Poungparn, S. & Kato, S. (2005). Common allometric equations for estimating the tree weight of mangroves. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 21(4): 471-477. DOI: 10.1017/S0266467405002476

[21]. IPCC (2003). Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry. Penman, J., Gytarsky, M., Hiraishi, T., Krug, T., Kruger, D., Pipatti, R., Buendia, L., Miwa, K., Ngara, T., Tanabe, K. and Wagner, F., Eds., Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa.

[22]. Donato, D.C., Kauffman, J.B., Murdiyarso, D., Kurnianto, S., Stidham, M. & Kanninen, M. (2011). Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics. Nature Geoscience. 4(5): 293-297.

[23]. Alongi, D.M. (2012). Carbon sequestration in mangrove forests. Carbon Management. 3(3): 313–322.

[24]. Fatoyinbo, T. E. & Simard, M. (2013). Height and biomass of mangroves in Africa from ICESat/GLAS and SRTM. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 34(2): 668-681.

[25]. Giri, C., Ochieng, E., Tieszen, L.L., Zhu, Z., Singh, A., Loveland, T., Masek, J. & Duke, N. (2011). Status and distribution of mangrove forests of the world using earth observation satellite data. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 20(1): 154–159.

[26]. World Bank (2019). Ethnic Minorities Development Plan for Nghe An province. Vietnam Improved Land Governance and Database Project (VILG). https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/797501568634562160/pdf/Ethnic-Minorities-Development-Plan-for-Nghe-An-province.pdf [Accessed 4 May 2025]

[27]. Statistics Office of Nghe An (2024). Summary report of the social-economics of Nghe An province in 2023.

[28]. Tuan, T.P. (2014). Ecological Geomorphological Zoning Study for Sustainable Land Use Planning in Nghe An Province. PhD thesis, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/luan-an-nghien-cuu-dia-mao-sinh-thai-lanh-tho-tinh-nghe-an-hay/229852484 [Accessed 4 May 2025].

[29]. Thu, P.M. & Populus, J. (2007). Status and changes of mangrove forest in Mekong Delta: Case study in Tra Vinh, Vietnam. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 71(1-2): 98-109.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2006.08.007

[30]. Du, Y., Zhang, Y., Ling, F., Wang, Q., Li, W. & Li X. (2016). Water Bodies’ Mapping from Sentinel-2 Imagery with Modified Normalized Difference Water Index at 10-m Spatial Resolution Produced by Sharpening the SWIR Band. Remote Sensing. 8(4): 354.

DOI: 10.3390/rs8040354

[31]. Hai-Hoa, N. & Hien, N.T.T. (2021). Aboveground biomass estimation models of mangrove forest based-on remote sensing and field-surveyed data: Implication for C-PFES implementation in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 48:101985. DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101985

[32]. Kaplan, G. & Avdan, U. (2017). Object-based water body extraction model using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. European Journal of Remote Sensing. 50(1): 137-143.

[33]. Gupta, K., Mukhopadhyay, A., Giri, S., Chanda, A., Datta Majumdar, S., Samanta, S. & Hazra S. (2018). An Index for discrimination of mangroves from non-mangroves using LANDSAT 8 OLI imagery. MethodsX. DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2018.09.011

[34]. Jamaluddin, I., Thaipisutikul T., Chen Y.N., Chuang C.H. & Hu C.L. (2021). MDPrePost-Net: A Spatial-Spectral-Temporal Fully Convolutional Network for Mapping of Mangrove Degradation Affected by Hurricane Irma 2017 Using Sentinel-2 Data. Remote Sens. 13: 5042. DOI: 10.3390/rs13245042

[35]. Congalton, R.G. (1991). A Review of Assessing the Accuracy of Classifications of Remotely Sensed Data. Remote Sens. Environ. 37: 35–46.

[36]. Congalton, R.G. & Green, K. (1999) Assessing the Accuracy of Remotely Sensed Data: Principles and Practices; Lewis Publisher: Boca Raton, FL, USA.

[37]. Rouse, J.W., Hass, R.H., Schell, J.A. & Deering D.W. (1974). Monitoring vegetation systems in the Great Plains with ERTS. 3rd ERTS Symposium, NASA SP351, Washington DC, 10-14 December 1973. 309-317.

[38]. Mokany, K., Raison, R.J. & Prokushkin, A.S. (2006). Critical analysis of root: shoot ratios in terrestrial biomes. Global change biology. 12(1): 84-96.

[39]. Komiyama, Akira, Ong, Jin, Poungparn & Sasitorn (2008). Allometry, biomass, and productivity of mangrove forests: A review. Aquatic Botany. 89: 128-137. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2007.12.006

[40]. Cannell, M. (1999). Growing trees to sequester carbon in the UK: answers to some common questions. Forestry 72(3): 237-247.

[41]. Petersson, H., Holm, S., Ståhl G., Alger, D., Fridman, J., Lehtonen, A., Lundström, A. & Mäkipää, R. (2012). Individual tree biomass equations or biomass expansion factors for assessment of carbon stock changes in living biomass–A comparative study. Forest Ecology and Management. 270: 78-84.

[42]. Weiguo., Fu. & Yanyou, Wu. (2011). Estimation of aboveground biomass of different mangrove trees based on canopy diameter and tree height, Procedia Environmental Sciences. 10C: 2189-2194. ISSN 1878-0296. DOI: 10.1016/j.proenv.2011.09.343

[43]. Simpson, W.T. (1996). Method to estimate drykiln schedules and species groupings: Tropical and temperate hardwoods. RPL-RP-548. USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, USA.