The dynamics of landscape changes surrounding a firefly ecotourism area

Abstract

Land use land cover (LULC) patterns have been reported to significantly affect ecotourism areas. Understanding the dynamic patterns of LULC changes is important for the efficient management of these areas. This research determined the influence of LULC changes on mangrove areas and identified the status of mangrove vegetation cover surrounding a firefly ecotourism area using multi-temporal Landsat satellite images from 2002 through 2017. A maximum likelihood classifier and normalised vegetation index differencing were used to determine LULC changes. Mangrove vegetation cover was examined using fraction vegetation cover analysis. Classification accuracy for LULC type was 86.1% and 87.2% for 2002 and 2017, respectively. The results showed a 22.06% loss (122.52 ha) and 4.47% increase (24.99 ha) in mangrove areas. Mangrove areas were converted to oil palm plantations (32.7%), forests (32.3%), settlements (9.25%), barren land (8.99%), rivers (6.8%), swampland (6.11%), urban development (1.67%), rubber plantations (1.25%), bodies of water (0.77%) and roads (0.09%). Increases in mangrove vegetation cover were observed along riverbanks away from development activities. Decreases in mangrove vegetation cover were affected by land-use activities. Proper management is required to avoid further loss of mangrove areas, and appropriate LULC management planning is needed to conserve mangrove areas and sustain firefly ecotourism.