Integrating Satellite Imagery and Elevation Models for Degradation/Regeneration Analysis of an Amazonian Mangrove Forest

The Amazon Macrotidal Mangrove Coast harbors the world's largest mangrove belt, spanning 7,590 km
²
, with the Bragança Peninsula (Brazil) being a focal area for mangrove changes due to the 1970s construction of road PA-458. This road altered tidal channels, causing a 2 km mangrove degradation buffer. Using remote sensing and digital elevation models, this study analyzed degraded areas. The mid-resolution data between 1986 and 2019, showed a reduction of degraded areas of 247.96 ha. High-resolution data from 2003 to 2019 indicated a 211.65 ha decrease of the degraded areas. Highresolution classifications achieved >0.9 accuracies, with Avicennia germinans dominating due to saline resilience. Digital models highlighted regeneration in lower areas, forming saline lakes toward PA-458. Sea-level rise triggered mangrove re-establishment, influenced by "La Niña" and "El Niño" precipitation extremes.