Spatial modeling of biomass of mangroves in the Hara protected area

The estimation of mangrove carbon stocks is crucial for providing vital information for the development of climate change adaptation programs and blue carbon strategies in coastal ecosystems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the carbon storage of mangroves in the Hara protected area of Hormozgan province. For this purpose, after field surveys and recording the diameter at the mangroves' collar, the above-ground and below-ground biomass was estimated using allometric equations. Then, a regression was fitted between the above-ground and below-ground biomass and the normalized vegetation index (NDVI) extracted from the satellite images to develop a map of the above-ground and below-ground biomass of mangroves in two coastal and island zones and tall and dwarf mangroves structures. The results showed that the average above-ground biomass in the coastal and island zones of the Hara protected area was 61.2 and 56.1 t/ha, respectively, and the average underground biomass was 15.6 and 12.5 t/ha, respectively. There was a significant difference between the values of these two biomasses in the two zones. The extent of tall mangroves in the coastal zone (59%) was greater than dwarf mangroves (41%), and in the island zone, the extent of tall mangroves (44%) was less than dwarf mangroves (56%). The amount of total biomass in tall mangroves in both zones was about 7.5 and 8 times greater than the value of this variable in dwarf mangroves, respectively. The results of this study can be used to prepare climate change adaptation plans for mangrove habitats.