Multitemporal Analysis of Seagrass Dynamics on Derawan Island (2003–2021) Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Abstract

The shallow waters around Derawan Island are renowned for their beauty, attracting a significant number of tourists. Since the 2008 National Sports Week (PON) in East Kalimantan, the construction of inns and jetties has enhanced both accommodation and accessibility on the island. However, this development has also impacted the seagrass beds in the surrounding shallow waters. This study examines the changes in the area and density of seagrass beds from 2003 (prior to the PON activities) through to 2011 (a few years post-PON) and in 2021 (the most recent conditions), assessing the effects of lodging and jetty construction on these beds. Data were collected via field surveys using the photo transect method, and the benthic habitat map was created using Landsat 8 OLI Imagery, applying the Lyzenga water column correction algorithm and unsupervised classification method. The Normalized Difference Building Index (NDBI) algorithm and land digitization were utilized to track the development of the inns and jetties, revealing a rapid, widespread increase in construction throughout the island's southern region (R-square = 0.59). The study findings indicate a significant degradation of seagrass meadows between 2003 and 2021, particularly near populated areas on the southern coast, resulting in decreased density levels.