Abstract The results of the analysis of LANDSAT satellite images were used to reconstruct the change in the area of mangrove forests of the Mekong River Delta over a 30-year-long period. This study was based on a series of images made in 1988, 1998, 2013, and 2018, covering the entire coast of the delta. We calculated the total area of mangroves for each period, as well as the area on which the mangroves were replaced by secondary vegetation or anthropogenic landscapes, and the area on which mangrove vegetation was restored. In 1988, the mangrove forest occupied 111 000 ha. The area of mangroves decreased by 35 000 ha over a 30-year period, by 68% of their initial area, and the rate of disappearance of mangrove vegetation calculated from these data should have been 1200 hectares, or about 1% per year. However, the satellite monitoring performed every 10–15 years shows that the negative trend of the dynamics has changed to a positive one. The area of mangroves increased by 7 800 ha from 2013 till 2018. This is the first documented change in the trend of mangrove dynamics for a large region.

中文翻译：

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湄公河三角洲（越南）红树林的动态：从退化到恢复

摘要 利用LANDSAT 卫星图像分析结果重建了湄公河三角洲红树林面积30 年来的变化情况。这项研究基于 1988 年、1998 年、2013 年和 2018 年拍摄的一系列图像，涵盖了整个三角洲海岸。我们计算了每个时期的红树林总面积，以及红树林被次生植被或人为景观取代的面积，以及红树林植被恢复的面积。1988年，红树林占地11.1万公顷。红树林的面积在 30 年间减少了 35 000 公顷，减少了其初始面积的 68%，根据这些数据计算的红树林植被消失率应为 1200 公顷，即每年约 1%。然而，每 10-15 年进行一次的卫星监测表明，动态的负面趋势已转为积极趋势。从 2013 年到 2018 年，红树林面积增加了 7800 公顷。这是大区域红树林动态趋势的首次记录变化。