See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/255993961

Impact of coastal development on mangrove distribution in Kuantan, Pahang

Article · January 2009

CITATIONS READS
0 552

4 authors:

Shahbudin Saad Zuhairi Ahmad

International Islamic University Malaysia International Islamic University Malaysia
66 PUBLICATIONS   455 CITATIONS    19 PUBLICATIONS   20 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Kamaruzzaman Yunus Ahmed Jalal Khan Chowdhury

International Islamic University Malaysia International Islamic University Malaysia
172 PUBLICATIONS   913 CITATIONS    27 PUBLICATIONS   129 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Implications of Current Pattern on Dispersal of Coral Larvae in Isolated Reef near Balok Coastal Area - E Science Fund MOSTI View project

The distribution of phytoplankton in Kuantan Port during monsoon season View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Zuhairi Ahmad on 11 August 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

IMPACT OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT ON MANGROVE

DISTRIBUTION IN KUANTAN, PAHANG
Shahbudin, S., *Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A

* Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies (INOCEM), Kulliyyah of Science, Kuantan

Campus, Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

ABSTRACT

The mangrove ecosystem is one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. In
Malaysia, mangroves cover about 52% of the total length of the Malaysian coastline. Kuantan is
situated at the east-coast of Peninsular Malaysia, covering 2159.90 ha of mangroves which
consist of 11 species and dominated by Sonneratia alba and Rhizophora mucronata. The massive
development activities at Kuantan have given enormous pressure to the coastal ecosystem. The
current threats to Kuantan’s mangroves forest are primarily due to development for residential
and industry purposes, followed by aquaculture and other related activities. In order to ensure the
survivability of mangroves and sustainable coastal zone development, a continuous monitoring
of mangroves over time period is essential. Based on the above perspective, a study has been
conducted by using Landsat-5 TM data of Kuantan mangroves for the past 20 years. The study
reveals that the total area of mangroves at Kuantan in 1989 was 2885.60 ha. Besides, the periodic
supervised classification has shown that mangroves have been degraded more than 725.70 ha.
Thus, the rapid development in Kuantan especially along the coast and riverbank areas could be
alarming and major threats for the sustainable development of mangroves in Kuantan estuary.

Keywords: Mangroves, coastal development, remote sensing, mangrove degradation.

1. INTRODUCTION

Mangroves have various important in term of coastal protection, ecological and socio-
economic values to human and environment (Alongi, 2009). It creates a buffer zone, which
reduce coastal erosion. It also provides timbers for construction, firewood, charcoal, pulp source,
tannin and as well as traditional medicine used by local villagers. Products from the mangroves
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

such as charcoal and construction materials have high commercial values, thus become beneficial
to the local people as their source of income. Besides that, the production of detritus along the
mangrove area provides food source for shrimp, fishes, molluscs, birds and other marine
organisms, which increases the fisheries stock (Tse et al., 2008). The wide range diversity of
flora and fauna associated with mangrove ecosystem provides opportunities for education, eco-
tourism, and scientific studies of natural resources (Aston and Macintosh, 2002).

From economic perspective, coastal zone ecosystems including mangroves forest are very
valuable and should be exploited to maximize its economic returns. Uncontrolled development
will led to destabilizing of mangrove ecosystem and interrupt various natural processes
interaction. Sustainable use and management of mangroves seems to be the only alternative to
cope with its depletion and excessive exploitation for short term profit. Other factors which affect
the mangroves include pollutions, alteration of water flow patterns and natural loss due to high
energy waves (Farnsworth and Ellison, 1997).

Mangroves of Malaysia consist of 38 exclusive species, 58 non-exclusive species and 9

species from associate category. The total extent for mangroves cover in Malaysia is 612 580.11
ha, which 17% found in Peninsular Malaysia. The total extent of mangroves forest in Peninsular
Malaysia is about 103 203.11 ha. Of the total, about 88 406.61 ha or 85.6% are gazetted as
Permanent Reserved Forest, while the remaining 14 796.5 ha remained as Stateland Mangroves
(Lokman, 2004). As Malaysia is located in Indo-Malesia region of eastern Hemisphere, number
of explanations has been suggested for the high mangrove diversity. South-East Asia is the center
of mangrove speciation origin, with adjacent diverse terrestrial flora and fauna and continuous
wet humid climate. This enabled diversity continues to increase and prevented from extinction,
when condition were not ideal elsewhere (Ricklefs, 2006).

Cost-effective monitoring techniques are essential for mangroves studies. The use of
remote sensing technology and satellite imagery offers many advantages in this aspect. As the
mangrove area is highly dense, monitoring using conventional method might involving time, cost
and efforts. By using a remote sensing technique, large areas of mangrove are able to be
discriminated from various vegetation types, thus allowing mangrove mapping (Green et al.,
1998). Complimentary of field observation and remote sensing tools would increase reliability of
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

this method, ensuring the quality and accuracy of mangrove distribution mapping (Zuhairi, 2007).
Remote sensing data also can be used for inventorying, development planning and optimum
sustainable utilization of coastal zone resources. It repetitive and multispectral data
characteristics has proven to be very useful in providing information on various components of
coastal environment. The aims of this study was to investigate the impact of coastal development
on mangrove distribution by mapping the mangrove cover of Kuantan’s Mangrove, Pahang for
the past 20 years using Landsat-5 TM and identifying its total degradation area.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 STUDY AREA

Mangroves in Kuantan located in the east coast of Pahang state, Malaysia. The study area
occupied throughout the Kuantan town adjacent to Kuantan estuary. Kuantan mangroves range
between 3°51.32.13’N to 3°52.21.26’N in latitudes and 103°14.15.79’E to 103°24.02.24’E in
longitudes. The climate in Kuantan is equatorial, with uniform air temperature throughout the
year, varying from 24ºC to 28ºC with an average relative humidity approximately 80%. The
annual rainfall is quiet constant, which is about 3400 mm (Malaysian Meteorological Services
Department, 2007). The mangrove community in this area is extensive and well distributed over
several kilometers inland (State Forestry Department Pahang, 2006).

2.2 MANGROVE CLASSIFICATION

Landsat-5 TM data have been processed according to standard methods (Green et al.,
1998, NASA, 2008) to produce supervised image of mangrove mapping (figure 1). The ground
truth data have been applied to these procedures in order to provide better classification and
accuracies.
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

Landsat-5 TM Subset image, Enhanced

(Path: 126, Row: 57, radiometric Masked mangroves
Date:16/06/1989, correction, NDVI Images
01/05/1996, Geometric Band 1, 4, 3
13/09/2004) correction
Applied with
Field survey/Ground Unsupervised image
truthing (GPS Produced 1 classified groups
tracking) and Accuracy:
mangroves spectral 1989: 74.7%
Supervised image 1996: 89.2%
Accuracy: 2004: 67.3%
Digitizing in 1989: 85.1% Total random
Arcview 1996: 92.7% references: 1255
2004: 76.6 %

Figure 1: Flow chart of image processing and mapping (NASA, 2009).

2.3 GROUND TRUTHING

Waypoints of back mangrove line have been marked in certain area. These waypoints
have been used to identify the actual border of mangroves and terrestrial vegetations. The
coordinates from the waypoints have been marked in Arcview, overlapping with the Landsat-5
TM data and the actual border were digitized. However, this type of ground truthing may be used
only for mapping the entire mangroves and not suitable for mangrove discrimination up to
several group (Green et. al, 1998).

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 MANGROVE DISTRIBUTION AND DEGRADATION MAPPING

From Landsat-5 TM data, the Kuantan mangroves in turn cover 2885.60 hectares in 1989.
Until now, the mangroves have been degraded more than 725.70 hectares as the total area in
2004 was 2159.90 hectares (figure 2). The accuracies of unsupervised and supervised
classification for each year were found reliable (1989 = 85.1%, 1996 = 92.7%, and 2004 =
76.6%). The high agreement in Kappa coefficient (K) results also indicates mapping reliability
for each year (1989 = K 0.773, 1996 = K 0.810, and 2004 = K 0.698). This caused by factors of
Landsat-5 TM precise sensors, low density of mangroves and also less disturbance or
interference in terms of illumination, reflectance and water background. By using waypoints, the
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

actual mangroves borders are able to distinguish and digitizing only the mangroves area gave
better supervised image.

103:14:15.79, 3:51:32.13 103:24:02.24, 3:51:21.26

Kuantan

South China
Sea

Legends
Mangroves area in 1989
Total: 2885.60 hectares

Area degraded since 1996

Total: 2476.40 hectares

Mangrove in 2004
Total: 2159.90 hectares

Land
1.5km
103:24:02.24, 3:44:29.90

Figure 2: Mangrove distribution and degradation map in Kuantan, Pahang.

Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

3.2 TYPES OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENTS

Several types of coastal developments have been identified as the caused of degradation
(figure 3): tourism (Kuantan River waterfront and several resorts), jetty for fisheries landing and
mangrove clearing for commercial purposes (mainly for commercial building and residential
areas). Prices of land near the riverbank are cheaper, thus it attracted developer to commercialize
the land for residential areas and shops lot. The attraction of ‘living near the coastline’ also has
increased the demand for residential areas such as near the Tanjung Lumpur area in Kuantan.
Facilities such as roads and flyovers have been built on the mangroves area to connect places,
mainly located near the coastline and riverbank. Other developments are mostly involved the
government properties as several government buildings has been built on the cleared mangroves
area since past 20 years.

Local villagers have use the mangroves for source of constructions (houses and personal
jetties) as most of them are fisherman and their houses located along the riverbank. These houses
and jetties are exposed to the tidal fluctuation and easy to damage, thus mangroves are the
continuous source which provided the material for fixing and building new structures. Small
scale of cage culture industries can be found further upstream, which also had been built by the
villagers. Most of these cage structures have been built from mangroves and illegally cut down
from the near mangroves forest.

Kuantan River is the main route for fish vessels and other vessels to the South China Sea.
Routine trips of these vessels along the river have generated short wave action from wake current
and created erosions. This affected the mangroves especially certain species such as Rhizophora
spp. and Sonneratia alba which found on the front mangroves. Erosion due to short wave action
will caused the substrate to loose slowly and its roots do not able to hold the tree and collapsed in
certain period. However, this type of degradation only can be observed in small patches
especially in certain area of Kuantan River with busy vessels movement routines.
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

103:14:15.79, 3:51:32.13 103:24:02.24, 3:51:21.26

Kuantan

South China
Sea

Legends
Coastal development
*On the mangrove area only
Mangroves degraded due to
mangroves clearing and
natural processes

Mangrove in 2004
Total: 2159.90 hectares
1.5km
Land
103:24:02.24, 3:44:29.90

Figure 3: Coastal development on the mangrove area in Kuantan, Pahang.

3.3 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION

Total of 11 mangrove species have been identified in the Kuantan mangroves. According
to Lokman (2004) definitions, 11 of these identified mangrove species were included in exclusive
category (Table 1).
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

Table 1: Scientific classification and Malay names of the mangrove species in Kilim River,
Langkawi.
No. Family Species Authority Malay name Type¹
1. Rhizophoraceae Rhizophora apiculata BL. 1827 Bakau Minyak E
2. Rhizophoraceae Rhizophora mucronata Lamk. 1804 Bakau Kurap E
3. Rhizophoraceae Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk. 1797-1798 Tumu Merah E
4. Rhizophoraceae Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Robinson 1908 Tengal/Tengah E
5. Sonneratiaceae Sonneratia alba J. Smith 1819 Perepat E
6. Avicenniaceae Avicennia alba Blume 1826 Api-api Puteh E
7. Avicenniaceae Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. 1907 Api-Api Jambu E
8. Meliaceae Xylocarpus granatum König1784 Nyireh Bunga E
9. Meliaceae Xylocarpus moluccenesis - Nyireh E
10. Acanthaceae Acanthus ebracteatus - Jeruju E
11. Palmae Nypa frutican - Nipah E

¹E= Exclusive species (Source: Macintosh et al., 2002, Aston and Macintosh, 2002)

The mangrove species were distributed evenly throughout the Kuantan mangroves. The
existence of distinct zone, each dominated by different mangrove species were able to be
observed in most of the mangrove area in Kuantan. Sonneratia alba and Rhizophora mucronata
were the major species found in Kuantan. The species compositions quiet diversified towards
downstream, occupied by Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Nypa frutican took
place. However, various species found mixing in small portions with other species in all area
except in area where Nypa frutican was densed and thrive to the riverbanks. The large proportion
of Kuantan mangroves found mostly along the riverbanks, and tall mangroves such as Sonneratia
alba not only restricted to back mangroves area but also found in the front mangrove area. In
Kuantan, Rhizophora spp., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Sonneratia alba, Avicennia spp., and Nypa
frutican are the species which seemed to be degraded most as the observation.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Fast developments in Kuantan town especially near the coastal and riverbank are the
major threats to the mangroves. In fact, in the past 20 years, more than 700 hectares of
mangroves area have been cleared for developments, yet the current status (in year 2009) still
unknown. Extensive clearing such in Kuantan mangrove case definitely will affect lots of parties,
especially in fisheries sectors and people depend on it. The ecosystem balance may disrupt,
Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

causing erosions and marine organism depletions. Thus, the authorities need to plan, manage and
monitor coastal developments especially involving clearing the mangroves. This is to make sure
that we were able to reverse the degradation pattern now and provide time for the mangroves to
rehabilitate. Usage of hyperspectral data need to be considered for better mangroves mapping. A
detailed study of mangrove distribution can be conducted in longer time period, concerning
proper and details identification mangroves species.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research was funded by Mangrove Cluster Research under Institute of

Oceanographic and Maritime Studies (INOCEM), International Islamic University Malaysia and
collaborated with Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MACRES).

6. REFERENCES

[1] ALONGI, D. M. (2009). The Energetic of Mangrove Forest. Springer, New York. pp 5-9.
[2] ASTON, E. C., MACINTOSH, D. J. (2002). Preliminary assessment of the plant diversity
and community ecology of the Sematan mangrove forest, Sarawak, Malaysia. Forest
Ecology and Management, Vol. 166, pp 111-129.
[3] FARNSWORTH, E. J., ELLISON, A. M. (1997). The global conservation status of
mangroves. Ambio, Vol. 26, pp 328-334.
[4] GREEN, E. P., CLARK, C. D., MUMBY, P. J., EDWARDS, A. J., ELLIS, A. C. (1998).
Remote sensing techniques for mangrove mapping. International journal of remote
sensing, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp 935-956.
[5] LOKMAN, M. (2004). Exploring the interface: the enigmatic mangroves. KUSTEM
Publisher, Universiti Terengganu Malaysia, Malaysia.
[6] Malaysia Meteorological Services Department (2007). Rainfall, Temperature and
Relative Humidity of Kuantan Station. Kuantan Meteorological Department, Pahang,
Malaysia. Author.
[7] NASA (2009). Field guide to image processing. http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Front/tofc.html
 Shahbudin, S., Zuhairi, A., Kamaruzzaman, Y., Jalal, K.C.A, (2009) Impact of Coastal Development on Mangrove Distribution in
Kuantan, Pahang. International Workshop on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 20-22 October 2009, Izmir, Turkey

[8] RICKLEFS, R. E. (2006). Evolutionary diversification and the origin of diversity-

environment relationship. Ecology, Vol. 87, Phylogenetic approaches to community
ecology, pp 3-13.
[9] State Forestry Department of Pahang. (2006). A Management Plan for the Pahang
Mangroves (2006-2015). (p. 1). Kuantan, Pahang: Author.
[10] TSE, P., NIP, T. H. M., and WONG, C. K. (2008). Nursery function of mangrove: A
comparison with mudflats in terms of fish species composition and fish diet. Estuarine,
Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol. 80, Issue 2, pp 235-242.
[11] ZUHAIRI, A., 2007. Mangrove distribution in Banggi Island Sabah. Universiti Malaysia
Sabah.

View publication stats