Analysis of Mangrove Area and Density Using Multitemporal Satellite Imagery in 2014, 2019, and 2024 in Ujung Piring, Jepara Regency

Mangroves in Ujung Piring, Mlonggo District, Jepara Regency, which has experienced ecological pressure due to land conversion into aquaculture pondssss and coastal abrasion. This research was conducted in October 2024 with the aim of assessing the community structure and spatial characteristics of mangroves, including land cover, area, and density, in Ujung Piring during 2014, 2019, and 2024. The method employed was descriptive-explorative. Information on the temporal condition of mangroves was obtained using Landsat 8 (2014) and Sentinel-2A (2019 and 2024) satellite imagery. The methods applied included the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess vegetation density and the Random Forest algorithm for land cover classification. The NDVI value in 2014 indicated sparse density, whereas in 2019 and 2024 the density increased to sparse to moderate, which was supported by field measurements showing an average NDVI of 0.41 (moderate) and canopy cover of 76.4% (dense). The mangrove area showed a continuous increase over the last decade, from 21.97 ha (2014) to 33.96 ha (2024), resulting in a net gain of 11.99 ha (17.45 ha gain and 5.46 ha loss). The increase indicates ongoing rehabilitation efforts and natural regeneration, while the loss of mangrove area was caused by land conversion into aquaculture pondssss and coastal abrasion in several locations.