The estimation model of mangrove forest biomass using a medium resolution satellite imagery in the concession area of forest concession company in West Kalimantan

Abstract

Abstract. Yusandi S, Jaya INS. 2016. The estimation model of mangrove forest biomass using a medium resolution satellite imagery in the concession area of forest concession company in West Kalimantan. Bonorowo Wetlands 6: 69-81.  Mangrove forest is one of the forest ecosystem types having the highest carbon stock in the tropics. Mangrove forests have a good assimilation capability with their environmental elements as well as have a high capability on carbon sequestration. Up to now, however, the availability of data and information on carbon storage, especially on tree biomass content of mangroves is still limited. Conventionally, an accurate estimation of biomass could be obtained from terrestrial measurements, but those methods are costly and time-consuming. This study offered an alternative solution to overcome these limitations by using remote sensing technology, i.e., using the moderate resolution imageries Landsat 8. The objective of this study is to formulate the biomass estimation model using medium resolution satellite imagery, as well as to develop a biomass distribution map based on the selected model. The study found that the NDVI has a considerably high correlation coefficient of larger than > 0.7071 with the standing biomass. On the basis of the values of aggregation deviation, mean deviation, bias, RMSE, ?², R², and s, the best model for estimating the mangrove standing biomass is B=0.00023404 with the R² value of 77.1%. In general, the concession area of BSN Group (PT Kandelia Alam Semesta and PT Bina Ovivipari) has a potential of biomass ranging from 45 to 100 tons per ha.