Author(s) :

Génie-Spirou Kiala Lutonadio, Fidélise Ntedika, Manifeste Kafuti Wala, Raphael Muamba Tshimanga.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Mangroves in Moanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, are increasingly threatened by climate variability and human activities. This study aims to quantify hydroclimatic drivers and anthropogenic pressures influencing mangrove health using hydroclimatic and satellite-derived indices, and community-based surveys. The findings indicate that between 2000 and 2021, Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) exhibited significant variability (0.10–0.18), with moisture peaks in 2003 and 2005 followed by sharp declines in 2004, 2015, 2018, and 2021, indicating progressive hydric stress. Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Climatic Moisture Index (CMI) trends (1990–2024) reveal alternating wet and dry periods, with severe droughts in 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2020, and wet years in 1993, 1999, 2005, and 2024, reflecting climate instability. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index remained relatively high (0.85–0.93) from 2000 to 2024, suggesting good vegetation cover but low resilience to climatic fluctuations. Anthropogenic pressures amplify these vulnerabilities: deforestation through shifting cultivation and artisanal logging shows the highest impact index (0.8), followed by unsustainable fishing (0.6), whereas oil extraction and settlements exert moderate impacts (≈ 0.4). The Pearson correlation suggests that hydroclimatic variability may influence socioeconomic activities, with drier conditions potentially associated with increased pressure on mangrove resources. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated management strategies combining high-resolution climate monitoring, reforestation, regulation of logging and fishing, community engagement, and supportive policies to enhance mangrove resilience under increasing climate stress.

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