As part of operational guidance of mangrove forest rehabilitation in the Mahakam delta, Indonesia, site suitability mapping for 14 species of mangrove was modelled by combining 4 underlying factors—clay, sand, salinity and tidal inundation. Semivariogram analysis and a geographic information system (GIS) were used to apply a site-suitability model, while kriging interpolation generated surface layers, based on sample point data collection. The tidal inundation map was derived from a tide table and a digital elevation model from topographic maps. The final site-suitability maps were produced using spatial analysis technique, by overlaying all surface layers. We used a Gaussian model to adjust a semivariogram graph in order to help to understand the variation of sample data values, and create a natural surface layer of data distribution over the area of study. By examining the statistical value and the visual inspection of surface layers, we saw that the models were consistent with the expected data behavior;therefore, we assumed that interpolation has been carried out appropriately. Our site-suitability map showed that Avicennia species was the most suitable species and matched with 50% of the study area, followed by Nypa fruticans, which occupied about 42%. These results were actually consistent with the mangrove zoning pattern in the region prior to deforestation and conversion.
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