Global 250m spatial distribution data of above-ground biomass of mangrove forests in 2004

Mangroves are distributed at the interface between land and sea in tropical and subtropical regions, playing a crucial role in carbon cycling and biodiversity conservation. Accurately mapping the above-ground biomass (AGB) of global mangroves is of great significance for estimating global blue carbon. This study combines ground survey data, spaceborne lidar, optical images, climate, and topographic data with a random forest model. By incorporating 342 ground observation data collected from literature and shared datasets, a training and validation model for estimating the AGB of mangroves was constructed, and a global map of mangrove AGB distribution in 2004 (with a resolution of 250m) was produced. The research results show that the average density of global mangrove AGB is 115.23 Mg/ha, with a standard deviation of 48.89 Mg/ha. The total AGB storage of global mangroves is 1.52 Pg. Using reserved ground data for validation, the R2 and RMSE of the AGB in this study were 0.48 and 75.85 Mg/ha, respectively. This data product can help understand the global distribution of mangroves and also serve as a benchmark for monitoring global mangrove biomass trends.