Relationship between vegetation indices and dendrometric parameters in Kelantan Delta mangrove ecosystem

Abstract

Remote sensing is the modern technology to obtain useful infonnation synoptically as it offers a complete coverage of the study area, complementing field surveys of higher infonnation but which are difficult to carry out, especially in the case of mangroves. This project involves the implementation methodologies to analyze relationship between vegetation indices and dendrometric parameters in Kelantan Delta mangrove ecosystem. This study area consists of 17 islands, covering an area of approximately 1200 ha. The ground truth survey covered 21 sampling stations, of which 7 stations represented mangrove proper while others are rural settlement and terrestrial vegetation. For mangrove classification analysis, the satellite image (Landsat TM) acquired on year 2000 was used. This image was processed using ERDAS software with band combination 4, 5, 3. The land-use cover classification had 11 classes, and about 3 classes are exclusively for mangrove species such as Rhizhopora, Avicennia and Sonneratia-Nypa.