Assessing spatial and temporal changes of mangrove ecosystem for conservation in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia | |
| Author | Zahra, Rahma Aulia |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-25-06 |
| Subject(s) | Mangrove ecology--Thailand Forests and forestry--Thailand--Remote sensing |
| Note | A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Natural Resources Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Indonesia has the biggest mangroves in the world, yet studies analyzing mangrove changes and their relation to ecosystem services for conservation have been limited. This study's objectives are to evaluate the spatial and temporal change of mangroves in Medan and Deli Serdang as coastal areas in Indonesia by analyzing changes in land cover and mangrove ecosystem services. This study estimated the cost-benefit and prioritized areas for mangrove conservation. Data used in this study comprises remote sensing, survey data, and information from Key Informant Interviews. Landsat 5, 7, and 8 to analyze land cover changes in 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024. The supervised classification using Random Forest was conducted to classify and compute the area into 5 classes, namely mangroves, built-up, water bodies, cropland, and aquaculture. The map of mangrove condition, benefit-cost ratio, current conservation, and proximity were overlaid to obtain the priority of conservation in Medan and Deli Serdang within different villages. Medan and Deli Serdang experienced changes in land use from 1994 to 2024. Decreases were observed in agricultural land and water bodies, while built-up areas and mangroves increased. Built-up areas are concentrated in Medan, while mangroves expanded into aquaculture and agricultural use. From 1994 to 2024, Medan and Deli Serdang experienced significant land use changes, with built-up areas expanding and mangroves declining by more than half due to conversion to aquaculture and cropland. This loss reduced mangrove ecosystem services from USD 10,340/year to USD 2,665/year, impacting local communities, such as Percut Village, where fish catches have declined. Despite the higher cost of restoration (USD 5,229/Ha) compared to protection (USD 3,990/Ha), all districts show a benefit-cost ratio above 1, making conservation economically viable. Pantai Labu and Labuhan Deli are key conservation districts in Medan and Deli Serdang. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shrestha, Rajendra P. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tsusaka, Takuji W.;Himanshu, Sushil Kumar |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), Germany |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |