Classification and Mapping of Mangrove Forest Area in Eastern Leyte Using Percentile-Based Threshold Segmentation

Abstract

Mangroves in Eastern Leyte play an important role in the environment by offering various ecological benefits like protecting shorelines, storing carbon and serving as homes for a variety of marine creatures. It is crucial to map and monitor mangrove forests to properly conserve and manage them. This research study specifically looks at how to identify and locate mangrove areas in Eastern Leyte Philippines using satellite images. A method based on the 75th percentile threshold segmentation index was used to detect and classify these mangrove areas. Field surveys provided ground truth data to confirm the accuracy of the classification results, which showed an overall accuracy rate of 83.93% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.678 indicating substantial agreement between the classified information and the actual data. The high level of accuracy demonstrates that the percentile-based threshold segmentation method is reliable in distinguishing mangrove areas from types of land cover. This study offers an efficient and faster approach for mapping mangroves in Eastern Leyte that can be applied to ecological research in different locations. The outcomes support the development of management strategies, contribute to global initiatives aimed at protecting and conserving mangroves.