Successional stage classification of coastal saltmarshes and tidal flats in China (2022)

Description: This dataset provides a 10-m resolution raster map of successional stages of coastal intertidal habitats in China for 2022. Based on the temporal trend and variability of vegetation contribution to soil carbon (CVSCt, CVSCsd) combined with EVI thresholds, saltmarshes and tidal flats were classified into four categories: 1 = Permanent tidal flats (persistent unvegetated areas), 2 = Degrading saltmarshes (CVSCsd > 0, CVSCt < 0), 3 = Developing saltmarshes (CVSCsd > 0, CVSCt > 0), 4 = Mature saltmarshes (CVSCsd = 0, EVImax > 0.1 in 2022). This classification highlights the dynamic ecological states of saltmarshes beyond static vegetation mapping, providing critical insights into blue carbon storage potential and conservation prioritization. Data are provided as a single-band GeoTIFF file.
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.