Mangrove ecosystem density mapping using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Analysis in the Coastal Area of Pasekan District, Indramayu Regency
Abstract
The mangrove ecosystem in the coastal area of Pasekan Subdistrict, Indramayu Regency, is experiencing environmental pressure due to coastal abrasion and land-use conversion, which affect vegetation density. This study aims to analyze changes in mangrove density during 2015–2025 using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) method based on Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 imagery. The analysis included image preprocessing, NDVI calculation, density classification, and spatial change analysis. The results showed that mangrove density area decreased by 29.2293 ha (9.38%), from 311.7671 ha in 2015 to 282.5378 ha in 2025. The decline mainly occurred in the very high-density class due to coastal abrasion and land conversion into ponds and settlements. Meanwhile, the increase in low to medium-density classes indicates mangrove regeneration and rehabilitation in several locations. In addition, Sentinel-2 imagery provided better spatial detail than Landsat 8 for mangrove density identification. Keywords: Mangrove density; Landsat 8; NDVI; Sentinel