<b>Feasible Mangrove Monitoring Strategies </b><b>for</b><b> Remote Coastal Areas</b>

Mangrove ecosystems play a critical role in coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience, yet monitoring remains challenging in remote tropical regions. In Papua New Guinea, particularly within the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area (KWMA), logistical constraints, safety risks, complex terrain, and limited institutional capacity restrict conventional field-based surveys. This study evaluates the feasibility of major mangrove monitoring approaches, including satellite remote sensing, GIS analysis, UAV surveys, field sampling, and community-based monitoring. The findings indicate that no single method is sufficient under real-world conditions. Instead, a hybrid framework—combining satellite-based mapping with community validation and targeted field investigation—offers the most practical and sustainable strategy. The study provides applied insights to support evidence-based conservation in resource-constrained coastal contexts.