Mangrove Mapping

Delta Du Saloum, Senegal

The coastal wetlands in Delta du Saloum provide many benefits including coastal protection, flooding control, provision of fresh water and house over 100.000 inhabitants. However, the area has been heavily degraded over the years, and since 1950, 30% of the mangroves have been lost.

The coastal wetlands of the Delta are buffers against disasters as the area acts as coastal protection, flooding control and provision of freshwater preventing floods, droughts and tropical hurricanes. The site also supports a variation of fauna including numerous species of notable mammals, four species of breeding turtles and an array of nesting waterbirds and wintering Palearctic migrants.

The mangrove extent and density was mapped using recent Sentinel-2 data from the Copernicus Program. This provides detailed information on the status of the mangroves in the area.