Annual vegetation classification map of coastal saltmarshes in China (2022)

This dataset provides a 30-m resolution raster map of saltmarsh vegetation distribution across the coastal zone of China for the year 2022. The classification covers intertidal areas between 20.24° N and 41.05° N, including major estuaries such as the Yellow River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary. The raster values represent different surface cover types, coded as follows:1 = Mudflat (unvegetated tidal flat)2 = Spartina spp.3 = Phragmites australis4 = Scirpus spp.5 = Others (minor saltmarsh species or mixed assemblages)6 = Suaeda spp.9 = Mangrove forestsSpatial resolution: 10 m × 10 m per pixel.Projection: WGS 84 / UTM Zone (EPSG code depends on region; coastal China mosaicked into a national raster).Data format: GeoTIFF (single band, integer values 1–9).<br>Use notes:This dataset excludes mangroves where separate high-resolution mapping products exist, except where small patches are embedded in saltmarsh mosaics.Recommended for applications in blue carbon assessments, biodiversity monitoring, and coastal ecosystem management.<br><br>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.