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The use of remote sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystems
Dahdouh-Guebas, F. (2002). The use of remote sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystems. Environ. Dev. Sustain. 4(2): 93-112. https://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1020887204285
In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. Springer Science+Business Media: London; Dordrecht; Boston. ISSN 1387-585X; e-ISSN 1573-2975, more
Also appears in:
Dahdouh-Guebas, F. (Ed.) (2002). Remote sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystems. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 4(2). Kluwer Academic: Dordrecht. 144 pp., more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Coastal zone
    Conservation > Resource conservation
    Countries > Developing countries
    Degradation > Environmental degradation
    Ecosystem resilience
    Environments > Tropical environment
    Flora > Weeds > Marine organisms > Seaweeds > Sea grass
    Information systems > GIS
    Management > Ecosystem management > Coastal zone management
    Management > Environment management
    Man-induced effects
    Monitoring > Environmental monitoring
    Population characteristics > Population structure
    Population dynamics
    Prediction
    Protection > Environmental protection
    Reefs > Biogenic deposits > Coral reefs
    Remote sensing
    Restoration
    Sustainability > Sustainable development
    Sustainable development
    Tropical environments
    Water bodies > Inland waters > Wetlands > Swamps > Mangrove swamps
    Marine/Coastal; Brackish water

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  • Dahdouh-Guebas, F., more

Abstract
    The sustainable use and management of important tropical coastal ecosystems (mangrove forests, seagrass beds and coral reefs) cannot be done without understanding the direct and indirect impacts of man. The ecosystem’s resilience and recovery capacity following such impacts must be determined. The efficacy of mitigation measures must also be considered. Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) are excellent tools to use in such studies. This paper reviews the state of the art and application of these tools in tropical coastal zones, and illustrates their relevance in sustainable development. It highlights a selected number of remote sensing case-studies on land cover patterns, population structure and dynamics, and stand characteristics from South-East Asia, Africa and South-America, with a particular emphasis on mangroves. It further shows how remote sensing technology and other scientific tools can be integrated in long-term studies, both retrospective and predictive, in order to anticipate degradation and to take mitigating measures at an early stage. The paper also highlights the guidelines for sustainable management that can result from remote sensing and GIS studies, and identifies existent gaps and research priorities. There is a need for more comprehensive approaches that deal with new remote sensing technologies and analysis in a GIS-environment, and that integrate findings collected over longer periods with the aim of prediction. It is also imperative to collect and integrate data from different disciplines. These are essential in the spirit of sustainable development and management, particularly in developing countries, which are often more vulnerable to environmental degradation.

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