Annual vegetation classification map of coastal saltmarshes in China (2022)

This dataset provides a 30-m resolution raster map of saltmarsh vegetation distribution across the coastal zone of China for the year 2022. The classification covers intertidal areas between 20.24° N and 41.05° N, including major estuaries such as the Yellow River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary. The raster values represent different surface cover types, coded as follows:1 = Mudflat (unvegetated tidal flat)2 = Spartina spp.3 = Phragmites australis4 = Scirpus spp.5 = Others (minor saltmarsh species or mixed assemblages)6 = Suaeda spp.9 = Mangrove forestsSpatial resolution: 10 m × 10 m per pixel.Projection: WGS 84 / UTM Zone (EPSG code depends on region; coastal China mosaicked into a national raster).Data format: GeoTIFF (single band, integer values 1–9).Use notes:This dataset excludes mangroves where separate high-resolution mapping products exist, except where small patches are embedded in saltmarsh mosaics.Recommended for applications in blue carbon assessments, biodiversity monitoring, and coastal ecosystem management.Please cite Qi G, Wei J, Li H, et al. Insight into rapid vegetation dynamics in China’s saltmarshes reveals overlooked coastal soil carbon storage[J]. One Earth, 2026, 9(2) if using for academic research.