The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Mangrove Forest Cover from 1973 to 2020 in Chwaka Bay and Menai Bay, Zanzibar

Mangroves in Zanzibar have a high value for biodiversity and scenic beauty. However, mangroves are susceptible to anthropogenic natural environmental disturbances. Although global mangrove monitoring systems exist, it is the practitioners focused on small areas who knowledgeable about area which they work. This study examined change cover Chwaka Bay Menai Bay, between 1973 2020, using Landsat satellite data. The transformed divergence (TD) index Jeffries–Matusita (J-M) distance were used calculate separability of land classes before classification. overall accuracies ranged 82.5 92.7% 85.5 94.5% Bay. kappa coefficients (ĸ) range 0.72–0.90, while producer’s user’s 72 100%. Bay’s annual decrease 2020 was 48.5 ha, compared Menai’s 6.8 ha. loss linked illegal timber/pole cutting, firewood collection, charcoal burning, unsustainable aquaculture, agricultural urban development. Others changes conditions that suitable climate change. crucial providing basis ecological restoration management Zanzibar’s ecosystem.