Botanical field-study and remote sensing to describe mangrove resilience in the Saloum Delta (Senegal) after 30 years of degradation narrative

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems are currently experiencing a drastic loss on a global scale. However, the Senegalese mangrove is presently achieving a significant increase that has been overlooked by non-governmental organizations, media, and policymakers. The purpose of this investigation is to develop a better understanding of the dynamics leading to the increase of the Senegalese mangrove in by using remote sensing and botanical field data. Our main results were obtained from a spatial analysis of mangrove gains (3600 ha between 2000 and 2015) from remote sensing data. Patches of mangrove appearance and reappearance between 2000 and 2015 were defined through the botanical survey at 47 sites. Spontaneous regeneration from the known natural mortality during the 1980s and 1990s represented 96% of the expansion. We conclude that the mangrove ecosystem has shown resilience to rainfall and salinity variation, which advance our understanding of potential future climate change impacts to mangroves and their ability to recover from drought-induced mortality. We estimate that the diverse process of replantation contribution is diminutive to the spontaneous regeneration of mangroves in the Saloum Delta, and that the merit of replantation programs should be reevaluated. Narratives regarding the degradation of the Senegalese mangrove, the contributing pressures of human activity, and environmental politics should also be revised to reflect the findings of scholarly research.