Identification Of Mangrove Patches and its Species Using Remote Sensing and Field Method in Ranong Province, Thailand

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystem is one of the important coastal ecosystems for biodiversity, coastal protection and daily livelihood of millions of people in coastal developing countries including Thailand. This study was conducted in Ranong Province, Thailand with the aim to identify and determine the mangrove patches distribution and its species. Remotely sensed data was used and revealed that the mangrove forest was existed in each district. Mueng district is considered as the area where the highest number of mangrove patches found with the totale 17 patches, The smallest patch number was identified in Kra Buri district with a total of only 3 patches. Most of the patches were formed clumped, elongated with medium and large sizes and were located along the Andaman seacoast. The Point Centered Quarter (PCQ) field method was employed for floristic inventory. The Result indicated that there were 19 identified mangrove species with 4 dominant taxa namely, Rhizophora, Avicennia, Ceriops and Bruguiera found in Ranong and these types would be considered as the choice for mangrove reforestation. This result derived from this study may useful for various stakeholders in Ranong such as local government units, non governmental organization and decision-makers and could be served for mangrove management and coastal landscape planning in that area.