Degradation of the Everglades Mangrove Forests from Intense Hurricane Events: a 20 Y ear Landsat Study

The Everglades National Park (ENP) is a vast wetlands ecosystem in southwestern Florida, facing significant challenges, including the expansion of sugar plantations and reduced water flow due to the lack of infrastructure. The increasing frequency of hurricanes poses the most significant and pervasive threat to mangrove ecosystems, crucial for coastal protection and carbon sequestration. The presented research employs remote sensing, particularly the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), to explore the impact of major hurricanes on mangrove health from 2000 to 2022. Landsat-5, Landsat-8, and National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) data are utilized for comprehensive analysis. The study reveals distinct damage and recovery patterns, emphasizing the role of storm surges and drainage in mangrove resilience using Differential Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI). Hot spots of low resilience are identified along the southern and northwestern coasts, possibly implying the presence of endorheic basins, which contrasts with high-resilience areas around interior lakes. The research underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and in-depth investigations into the long-term consequences of individual storm events on mangrove ecosystems, as well as the necessity of fine-scale mapping of endorheic basins in coastal forests. Recommendations for future research include extending the temporal scope, incorporating additional indices like the Disaster Vegetation Damage Index (DVDI), and integrating biomass and chemical studies for more comprehensive insight. This study contributes valuable insights to inform conservation strategies and mitigation efforts for the adverse effects of hurricanes on the Everglades’ mangrove populations.