Long-term Environmental Monitoring of the Cananéia–Iguape Coastal System (1985–2022): Implications for Coastal Management and Sustainability

Understanding land-use and land-cover (LULC) dynamics is fundamental for the management and conservation of fragile coastal ecosystems. This study investigates the spatiotemporal transitions within the Cananéia–Iguape Coastal System (CICS), a UNESCO World Heritage site in Brazil, over a 37-year period (1985–2022). The research addresses the gap in long-term, high-resolution monitoring of this estuarine-lagoon complex, which is vital for biodiversity and local livelihoods. Using MapBiomas Collection 8.0 data processed via the Google Earth Engine, we analyzed LULC transitions and stability across several classes, with a specific focus on mangrove dynamics, landscape stability, and anthropogenic expansion. Our findings reveal that the CICS maintains a high degree of landscape integrity, with natural vegetation covering approximately 90% of the area in 2022. Mapped mangrove cover remained relatively persistent throughout the study period, although small variations in mangrove extent should be interpreted cautiously because they may be influenced by classification uncertainty in the original MapBiomas dataset. However, significant transitions were identified in “Pasture” and “Mosaic of Uses,” reflecting localized anthropogenic pressures. The results indicate that the overall landscape structure of the CICS remained largely preserved. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring is required to track the progression of human-modified landscapes and support adaptive management strategies. This study concludes that the integration of cloud-based geospatial data provides a robust framework for coastal governance. The documented landscape stability of the CICS provides valuable information for environmental monitoring and supports the development of conservation and management strategies in tropical coastal zones. Graphical Abstract This visual summary serves as a pivotal entry point into the research, offering a concise overview of the study’s core findings and methodologies regarding the Cananéia–Iguape Coastal System (CICS). The graphical abstract illustrates the integration of MapBiomas time series data (1985–2022) with advanced geospatial processing via Google Earth Engine to monitor land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes. It highlights the five essential components: (1) Data, focusing on the historical satellite imagery of the CICS; (2) Analyses, depicting the transition matrices and temporal trends; (3) Model, showcasing the classification logic used by MapBiomas; (4) Results, emphasizing the persistence of the mapped mangrove class and the increase of selected anthropogenic land-cover classes; and (5) Conclusion, summarizing the importance of these dynamics for coastal management. By providing a quick, visually appealing summary, this abstract allows readers to rapidly comprehend the research’s essence, including the study area’s geographic context and the methodological flow from data acquisition to environmental interpretation, without requiring a full reading of the manuscript.