Understanding estuarine processes in uMfolozi/uMsunduzi/St Lucia estuary from Earth Observation data of vegetation composition, distribution and health Report to the WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION by Moses A. Cho, Heidi van Deventer Earth Observation, Natural Resources and Environment, The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa Melanie Lück-Vogel, Lara van Niekerk Coastal Systems, Natural Resources and Environment, The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa Janine Adams Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Onisimo Mutanga School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal WRC Report No. 2268/1/15 ISBN 978-1-4312-0754-1 March 2016 Obtainable from Water Research Commission Private Bag X03 GEZINA, 0031
[email protected] or download from www.wrc.org.za DISCLAIMER This report has been reviewed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the WRC nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. © Water Research Commission ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UNDERSTANDING ESTUARINE PROCESSES IN UMFOLOZI/UMSUNDUZI/ST LUCIA ESTUARY FROM EARTH OBSERVATION DATA OF VEGETATION COMPOSITION, DISTRIBUTION AND HEALTH BACKGROUND The uMfolozi/uMsunduzi/St Lucia estuary is situated in the largest fluvial coastal plain in South Africa and the largest estuarine system in Africa (155 000 ha). This estuarine system hosts the highest diversity of wetland habitat types for its size in the whole of southern Africa (Cowan, 1999). The estuary faces a number of threats as a result of human interference over several decades including habitat fragmentation and loss of species diversity.