Refere nce

Economic Value

Food Flavour ing agents

Plants (vegetables, fruits, and leaves). For example, "Sagu" that is obtained from palm the tree mangrove

Metroxylon sagu can be

found in Southeast Asia. It is one of the types of favourate food that can be found in Malaysia. Other products are

including sweetmeats from propagules, cooking substitutes, and so on. Fauna The exploitation of the fish, molluscs in and which crustaceans condiments oil, tea alcohol from bark, sugar, honey,

vinegar, fermented drinks,

contain of high protein and iodine that abound in the mangrove areas also become the source of the seafood production.

Marine fisherie s

The

bark

tannins

are

used

traditionally in curing fishnets. Beside, Mangroves provide nursery

habitat and feeding ground for many wildlife species, including commercial fish and crustaceans. The mangroves form an important link among the juvenile and adult, or even obligatory stages of many marine food fauna. sources These and include water turbidity, mangroves as mangrove structural complexity as space and shelter from predators. Thus it contributes to sustaining the local abundance of fish and shellfish populations. In Selangor, about 119 species were recorded as associated with mangrove ecosystems.

Raw Materia ls

Mangroves have been exploited for timber for building dwellings and boats and fuel-wood for cooking and heating since the 1970s. For example, in Malaysia, where mangroves occur in profusion, an important cottage industry is the manufacture of shingles for roof thatching from the fronds of Nypa fruticans. Basketry, corks and floats that are obtained from pneumatophores are used in making fibres, ropes and cordage, mats, paper and tapa cloth. Leaves are and of

Typha
to

domingensis
floor baskets. polish

used

manufacture hats, bark to make

Cyperus

articulatus to make mats and

Other examples are Construction Timber for scaffolds and heavy constructi on Beams, poles, flooring, paneling, etc. Other products Fish, shellfish and mangrove roots for aquarium trade Fodder for cattle, goats and camels

Boat building Dock piling Thatch, matting

Fertilizers Lime Paper Raw material for handicraft Cigarette wrappers

Household Household items items Furnitu Furnitu re re Glue Glue Wax Wax Househ Househ old old utensil utensil s s Incens Incens e e Matchs Matchs ticks ticks Fuel: Firewo od Charco al Alcohol Textiles, leather Fur, skins Synthetic fibers (e.g. rayon) Dye for cloth Tannins for leather preservatio n

Most of the flora and fauna in mangrove forests bring a lot of the benefits to medical field,

especially the plants act as the raw materials, to be manufactured as medicine and remedy. While these economic benefits of mangroves have long been recognized and documented regarding the traditional uses of mangroves for medicine, commerce and for the livelihood. Recently, efforts have been made to from identify toxicants and and their chemicals with medicinal values mangroves potential economic benefits. Thus there are a lot of research and development (R&D) done on these mangrove forests.

Touris Educati onal Studies :

Mangrove

forests

with

their

m and variety of habitats offer a range of recreational opportunities such as fishing, bird-watching, wildlife observation, photography, natural education and researches, and so on. These activities provide an escape from the pressure of the urban living. Therefore coastal mangrove forests which near to the towns should be declared as

nature-cum-recreational and prohibit the the

parks mangrove of Port

destructive activities like logging. Examples, mangroves Pulau Langkawi, Matang,

Kelang and Kukup are known for fishery, and those of Kg. Kuantan, Kg. Belimbing (Selangor) and Sungai Dew, Matang and Sungai Kerian (Perak) harbour fireflies which attracted good number of eco-tourists. The mangroves of Kuala Merbuk (Kedah), Kukup (Johor) and Kuala Gula (Perak) are equally known for supporting migratory birds (A. Latiff 2012). Mangroves have immense educational and research values as an ecosystem that links the sea to land. The unique and unusual adaptions of mangrove flora and the role of mangrove ecosystems in the shallow water marine food chain are worthy of study and public education (Sasekumar and Lim 1994). These can be a fresh material for educational uses, expose people to the nature of the mangroves, the importance of mangrove forests that contribute to human uses, the disturbances

and

the

management

of

the

mangroves forests. These also can contribute to the appearance of awareness among the people to the mangroves forests. Other functions: Cultural, spiritual and religious values Artistic inspiration Heritage values

Environm ental stability and services:

Mangrov the protectiv e mangrov e buffer zone

Mangrove forests act as front floods, hurricanes and tidal

es act as lines barrier for protection against waves. Presence of the vegetation at the shoreline (like mangroves) can help in absorbing the wave energy of sea water. It can be recognized by the observation in the aftermath of 2004 tsunami in which shows that some of the coastal village survived serious damage because of protection offered by coastal vegetation and mangroves forests. One of the researches has concluded that the effectiveness of mangroves as a wave buffer would be considerable if the tsunami waves do not excess 4m but reduce moderate when waves reach 8m

(Cochard, et al. 2008). Besides a researcher also

evaluated that the tree density, stem and root diameter, shore slope of the forest, bathymetry and other criteria strongly influence the magnitude of energy absorption of mangrove forests. Roots control trapping of mangroves erosion sand and the help of of to the by those the

shorelines

riverbanks

particular areas. As a result of their intricately entangled aboveground root systems, mangrove communities protect shorelines during storm events by absorbing wave energy and reducing the velocity of water passing through the root barrier. He also mentioned that the mangrove forest should at least be 100m in width to significantly reduce the tsunami Protecting expensive wave flow pressure. sustains and mangroves than

natural protection, and is less seawalls similar erosion control structures, which can increase erosion in front of the structure and at adjacent properties (P.-P. Wong

2011). In short, mangrove forests play (front an lines important barrier). support role It to is as a ecological resilience or bio-belts biophysical other

coastal ecosystems to protect the coastal and land.

Mangrove forests also provide habitats for the wildlife. Mangrove systems support a range of wildlife species including sponges, meio-fauna insects, (like), prawns, fishes, elasmobranchs,

and others. Many animals find shelter either in the roots or branches of mangroves. Mangroves serve as rookeries, or nesting areas, for coastal birds such as brown species for pelicans depend of and Many on their roseate migratory mangroves spoonbills. part

seasonal migrations. For example, mangrove forests provide safe nesting and feeding sites for herons, egrets and other birds;

act as home to lots of snakes and spiders, flying foxes and a favorite spot for salt water crocodiles to tuck into for a rest and to look for food. In short, biologists have found that mangrove forests are one of the most important habitats in the world

Ecosystem Services
The provision of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial fauna and flora cannot be overlooked. 75% of all tropical commercial fish species pass part of their lives in the mangroves, where they encounter:

nursery grounds shelter food

Other ecosystem services provided by mangroves include:

protection from strong winds & waves;

Mangroves protective buffer zone helps shield coastlines from storm damage and wave action, minimizing damage to property and losses of life from hurricanes and storms.

soil stabilization & erosion protection;

The stability mangroves provide is essential for preventing shoreline erosion. By acting as buffers catching materials washed downstream, they help stabilize land elevation by sediment accretion, thereby balancing sediment loss. In regions where these coastal fringe forests have been cleared, tremendous problems of erosion and siltation have arisen.

nutrient retention and water quality improvement through filtration of sediments and pollutants;

Mangroves have been useful in treating effluent, as the plants absorb excess nitrates and phosphates, thereby preventing contamination of nearshore waters.

flood mitigation; sequestration of carbon dioxide;

Mangroves absorb carbon dioxide and store carbon in their sediments, thereby lessening the impacts of global warming; and

protection of associated marine ecosystems

Sea grass beds and coral reefs depend on healthy mangroves to filter sediments and provide nursery grounds for resident species.

Ecosystem Goods
Traditional and indigenous coastal populations have found sustenance from mangroves, collecting products and resources in a sustainable manner for hundreds or even thousands of years, including:

firewood medicines

fibers & dyes food charcoal construction materials

Mangrove Ecology
Vital for healthy coastal ecosystems
Healthy mangrove forests are key to a healthy marine ecology. Fallen leaves and branches from mangroves contribute to the forest detritus and provide nutrients for the marine environment. Intricate food webs of immense varieties of sea life are supported directly through this detritus.

Refuge and nursery grounds

Many threatened and endangered species are native to mangrove forests, which provide critical habitat for diverse marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, such as:

manatees crab-eating monkeys fishing cats monitor lizards sea turtles Royal Bengal tigers mud-skipper fish

Mangrove forests also provide refuge and nursery grounds for juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps, mollusks, and other invertebrates. Mangroves are prime nesting and migratory resting and feeding sites for hundreds of bird species. In Belize, there are over 500 species of birds recorded in mangrove areas.

Mangrove Habitat and Growth

Mangrove distribution is primarily determined by sea level and its fluctuations. Other secondary factors are: air temperature, salinity, ocean currents, storms, shore slope, and soil substrate. Most mangroves live on muddy soils, but they also can grow on sand, peat, and coral rock. Zonation often characterizes mangrove forests. Certain species occupy particular areas, or niches, within the ecosystem. Some mangrove species occur close to shores, fringing islands, and sheltered bays; others are found further inland, in estuaries influenced by tidal action.

Mangroves vary in height according to species and environment, from mere shrubs to 40 meter (app. 131 feet) tall trees. The prop roots of some mangrove species, such as Rhizophora spp., or red mangrove, and the pneumataphores (unique breathing roots) of others, such as Avicennia spp., or black mangrove, contain many small "breathing" pores, called "lenticels." These allow oxygen to diffuse into the plant and down to the underground roots by means of air space tissue in the cortex, called "aerenchyma." The lenticels are inactive during high tide. Lenticels in the exposed portions of mangrove roots are highly susceptible to clogging by crude oil and other pollutants, attacks by parasites, and prolonged flooding from artificial dikes or causeways. Over time, environmental stress can kill large numbers of mangrove trees. Evolutionary adjustments to varying coastal marine environments have produced some astounding biological characteristics within mangrove plant communities. Certain species of mangroves exclude salt from their systems, others actually excrete the salt they take in via their leaves, roots, or branches. In species that exclude salt, the mangrove root system is so effective in filtering out salt that a thirsty traveler could drink fresh water from a cut root, though the tree itself stands in saline soil.

Mangrove Reproduction

Certain mangrove species can propagate successfully in a marine environment because of special adaptations. Embryo germination begins on the tree itself, a process called "viviparity." The tree later drops its developed embryos, called propagules, which may take root in the soil beneath. Viviparity may have evolved as an adaptive mechanism to prepare the propagules for long-distance dispersal, and survival and growth within a harsh saline environment. During this viviparous development, the propagules are nourished on the parent tree, thus accumulating the carbohydrates and other compounds required for later autonomous growth. Propagules may float for extended periods (depending on the species), up to a year, and still remain viable. Viviparity and the long-lived propagules allow mangrove species to disperse over wide areas.

Mangrove Ecology Workshop Manual (Feller & Sitnik editors, pdf 1.23 MB)

The Mangrove Ecosystem

To understand what constitutes a mangrove wetland, we must understand the intricacies of this quite complex and interconnected ecosystem. Follow the Related Content below to read the important comments by Gilberto Cintron, of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Malaysian on Biodiversity Management

Policies Mangrove

NFP-

National Since mangroves are considered to be

Forestry Policy 1978 a part of Malaysian forests, NFP was

(Revised 1993)

introduced in 1978 to strengthen and uniformise the forest administration and management. Later on it is amended in 1993 to further enhance sustainable management of mangrove resources in order to pursue the UNCED conference 1992 in Rio de Janeiro.