Monitoring the Area and Distribution of Mangrove Forests in the Southern Coasts of Iran

Mangrove forests in Iran begin from the easternmost part of the border in the Oman Sea ( Gwatre Bay) and continue to the western parts of the Persian Gulf ending in Dayer (Bushehr Province). Mangrove ecosystems areas have sensitive habitats that are not only important in terms of purpose and protection but also because of the function of their irreplaceable values which have also been the focus of Biodiversity Convention. Mangrove ecosystems are susceptible to environmental stresses. Globally mangrove forests are decreasing by 1 to 2 percent annually. Mangroves in Iran which are preserved by Environmental Protection Organization include 4 International Wetlands, 1 Coast National Park, 8 protected areas, and one Biosphere Reserve. This study attempts to assess the area, distribution and changes in mangrove forests in the southern coasts of Iran During 37 year period (1973-2010) using an integrative method of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Landsat (MSS, TM, and ETM+). This Research could be used as a model for future Mangrove planning in landscape management in Iran. The results of this study determined the changes in extent of mangrove forests in Iran and showing 66.1% increase from 1973 to 2010.