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Global Mangrove Watch: version 3 and version 4 explained

Version 3 covers 1996 and 2007–2020 from radar; version 4.1 extends the series to 2025 using a 10 m baseline.

Global Mangrove Watch (GMW) is a partnership (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA and others) producing the world's reference mangrove maps.

Version 3.0 (2022) Version 4.1 (2026)
Years 1996, 2007–2010, 2015–2020 Annual 1985–2025
Basis JAXA L-band radar mosaics, 25 m 10 m baseline for 2020 plus 30 m annual maps
Country labels Added by Atlas Included in each polygon
Licence CC BY 4.0 CC BY 4.0

What Atlas holds. For 32 African countries: v4.1 maps for 1996, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025 and v3.0 maps for 1996, 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2020. All 41 yearly v4.1 files are archived on the server.

Why keep both. v3 offers extra years (2007 only exists there) and a second opinion. The two use different methods so Atlas never mixes them in one change figure: net change uses v4.1 only, and the chart draws v3 as a separate line.

Cite the version you use.

Limits. Differences between v3 and v4 areas can come from method, not from real change.

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