SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF MANGROVE CHANGE AND COASTAL LAND RECLAMATION ALONG QATIF COAST, SAUDI ARABIA (1990–2025)

Fadil Alhassan
falhassan@arizona.edu
Presentation Time: Mon, 05/04/2026 - 13:00
Keywords: Mangrove, Remote Sensing, Coastal Change, Land Reclamation, GIS

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems provide essential ecological services including coastal protection, habitat support, and biodiversity conservation. This study examines spatiotemporal changes in mangrove distribution in Qatif Governorate, Saudi Arabia, from 1990 to 2025 and identifies potential locations suitable for mangrove restoration. Multi temporal satellite imagery was analyzed using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques to detect changes in coastal vegetation and shoreline dynamics.
Vegetation and water indices, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index, were applied to identify mangrove areas and coastal water boundaries. Shoreline extraction and buffer analysis were used to detect coastal land reclamation and evaluate environmental conditions near the coastline.
The analysis revealed noticeable spatial changes in coastal environments, including areas of mangrove decline, localized expansion, and increasing land reclamation along the coastline across the study period. Several locations with suitable environmental conditions for mangrove restoration were identified based on vegetation signals, proximity to coastal water, and shoreline characteristics. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating remote sensing and geographic information systems for monitoring mangrove ecosystems and supporting sustainable coastal management
strategies in Qatif Governorate.