Lessons from a global remote sensing mapping project. A review of the impact of the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project for science and management

Anthropogenic and natural impacts threaten the sustainability of ecosystem services provided by ocean its coastlines. Coral reefs are an endangered important component tropical realm. reef science, management conservation programs greatly benefit from habitat maps when they available. This study reviews use Millennium Reef Mapping Project (MCRMP), which hierarchically mapped since 2004 coral worldwide using Landsat satellite multispectral imagery at 30 m spatial resolution. Tracking in scientific literature impact MCRMP products proved to be difficult because frequent lack citations (omission errors) confusion with that have integrated data but degraded them (commission errors). To categorize applications, we selected 62 representative studies unambiguously used products. were prominently achieve new results inventories; planning; enhancement biodiversity fishery resource mapping, monitoring modeling; connectivity climate change modeling. The also useful map other ecosystems. We evaluate main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats From this review, make recommendations reflect more generally on value future global-scale mapping projects targeting specific