Vulnerability Assessment of Mangroves to Sea Level Rise

In general, investigation of the vulnerability of mangroves to sea level rise and other consequences of climate change plays an important role in providing management solutions and enabling these ecosystems in order to minimize and compensate the expected damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of mangroves of Hormozgan province to sea level rise. To this end, satellite images of 1986, 1998, and 2016, digital elevation map and dispersion of structures, facilities and industrial and population centers located in the foreshore related to Khamir, Tiab and Jask habitats were used. By having the NDVI and false color composit maps, the supervised classification was done for all images. Using a digital elevation map of Hormozgan province, the slope map of offshore was prepared in two classess of lower and higher than 5%. Also, by surveying satellite imagery, reports and land surveying of the coasts of Hormozgan province, the locations of coastal infrastructures in the offshores adjacent to habitat areas were determined. The results showed that landward areas of the habitats were significantly reduced in the post-1998 compared to pre-1998, and Tiab habitat had the most reduction in the landward area in the period post-1998 (430 ha). The study of the slope and the position of the facilities in the foreshores of the habitats showed that with the exception of the Mardo Island, in other parts of the habitat areas, there is no limitation on the mangrove migration to the upstream areas. Finally, with considering the decrease in the landward areas of mangroves, the degree of vulnerability of habitats with the condition of continuation of the current trend of drought was as follows: Tiab> Khamir> Jask.