RECENT ADVANCES IN MANGROVE STUDIES USING REMOTE-SENSING DATA

This paper summarizes present capabilities in studying mangrove vegeta tion from space. There is no standard image processing method that can be applied for the identification and delineation of coastal ecosyste ms. From a spectral point of view, it is practically impossible to cha racterize each of the sixty species of trees and shrubs that constitut e the mangroves of the world. Nevertheless, some possibilities exist t o map at global and at local scales mangrove areas from satellite prod ucts, combining several space data sets, interpretation of aerial phot ographs and ground surveys. The monitoring of mangroves can be conside red as operational at a local level using remote sensing techniques, w hereas monitoring of these ecosystems at global or at regional levels has not yet been achieved.