Evaluation of the Effects of Protection on Land Use/Cover Changes in Govater Bay and Hur-e-Bahu Following International Wetland Designation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.

10.22091/ethc.2025.11662.1042

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the changes in land use and cover in Govater Bay and Hur-e-Bahu following their designation as a wetland of international importance, using a time series of satellite images.
Methods: The effects of protection and changes in mangrove forests in Govater Bay and Hur-e-Bahu were analyzed using Landsat satellite images. Sample data were collected through field visits, Google Earth imagery, and visual interpretation of satellite images. Image classification was conducted using both supervised and unsupervised methods, resulting in a comprehensive land use and land cover map of the study area.
Results: the results showed that the extent of mangrove forests expanded significantly after their designation as a wetland of international importance. The most significant expansion occurred between 2011 and 2023. Analysis of land use maps revealed that the mangrove forest area increased from 685 hectares in 1998 to 2534 hectares in 2023, representing a 370% increase. The findings indicated that mangrove forest expansion was predominantly concentrated along the western and central coasts and within the estuaries.
Conclusion: The mangrove ecosystem in Nayband Bay is a dynamic system, as changes between mangrove forest cover and other vegetation types were observed during the study period. The expansion of these forests following the designation of the area as a valuable wetland under the Ramsar Convention demonstrates the positive impact of conservation measures on the development of mangrove forests as a safe habitat for the protection of various wildlife and aquatic species in the region

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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