annual 10-meter resolution spatial distribution dataset of mangroves in China from 2000 to 2024

Each record in the data table represents an individual mangrove patch. The attribute fields encompass both patch geometric characteristics and multi-level administrative associations: the area field records the projected area of the patch (in square meters), and the year field identifies the data year. Administrative attributes refer to the National Standard Administrative Division Codes and the GADM database, including Chinese and English names for provincial (NAME_1), prefectural (地级), and county levels (NAME_3), as well as corresponding administrative codes (e.g., code and GID series fields), facilitating cross-scale spatio-temporal statistical analysis for users.Quality control was conducted through confusion matrix evaluations using an independent validation set, achieving an average overall accuracy of 94% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.87 across the entire time series.

Potential errors are primarily concentrated in extremely small newly established mangrove seedlings and degraded edges with sparse canopy cover, which are influenced by the physical resolution limits of multi-spectral imagery and spectral fluctuations caused by tidal inundation. Nevertheless, by incorporating guided filter edge-fidelity technology and a distance-weight-based smooth transition fusion strategy, the dataset effectively suppresses image mosaicking artifacts.

While ensuring long-term consistency, it precisely delineates the three-phase structural evolution of China's mangroves—decelerated degradation, steady recovery, and accelerated expansion—providing a high-fidelity spatial data foundation for the assessment of coastal ecological conservation.