Link to article: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/27/nation/20071227133647&sec=nation
Mangrove ecosystem is a peculiar habitat found at the interface between land and sea. The term "mangrove" is being applied to the specific ecosystem of the intertidal world in the tropics and subtropics and the plant community of this ecosystem is termed as “mangrove vegetation”.
Many people think that mangroves are a few dwarf weedy plants along the shoreline but mangroves are much more than that. It is a whole ecosystem acting as a buffer between land and sea. Mangroves are extensions of tropical and sub-tropical forests into the sea.
Most mangrove forests in Malaysia are found along the coastline of Sabah (341,377 hectares) followed by those in Sarawak (172,792 hectares) and in Peninsular Malaysia (123,482 hectares). Over half the total mangrove forests are located in the East and South-east of Sabah. About 60% of the mangrove areas in Malaysia have been designated as forest reserves to be used for sustainable harvest of mangrove products.
Despite the importance of mangroves, they are being destroyed at an alarming rate and it has become an urgent matter to understand trophic interactions and material flow within these ecosystems. More than 35% of the world’s mangroves are already gone. The figure is as high as 50% in countries such as India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, while in the Americas they are being cleared at a rate faster than tropical rainforests. Malaysia has lost almost 30% of her mangroves and the rate is expected to continue at 1% a year.
The main culprit in the destruction of mangroves is man. Human have destroyed this magnificent ecosystem on the reason of development. Land reclamations, industrial effluents, dumping of all kinds of waste and debris in the mangrove area cause the degradation of mangrove forest. The waste or debris dump in mangroves area creates a barrier preventing the sea water from entering the mangroves and eventually kills the mangroves. In many instances, this is done intentionally to reclaim land for construction activity. There is an urgent need to stop this systematic degradation of mangroves.
Why should we protect mangroves?.....
· Coastal protection: The dense root systems of mangrove forests trap sediments flowing down rivers and off the land. This helps stabilizes the coastline and prevents erosion from waves and storms. In areas where mangroves have been cleared, coastal damage from hurricanes and typhoons is much more severe. By filtering out sediments, the forests also protect coral reefs and sea grass meadows from being smothered in sediment.
· Fisheries: Mangrove forests are home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species. These fisheries form an essential source of food for thousands of coastal communities around the world. The forests also serve as nurseries for many fish species, including coral reef fish. A study on the Mesoamerican reef, for example, showed that there are as many as 25 times more fish of some species on reefs close to mangrove areas than in areas where mangroves have been cut down.
· Timber and plant products: Mangrove wood is resistant to rot and insects, making it extremely valuable. Many coastal and indigenous communities rely on this wood for construction material as well as for fuel.
· Tourism: Given the diversity of life inhabiting mangrove systems, and their proximity in many cases to other tourist attractions such as coral reefs and sandy beaches, it is perhaps surprising that only a few countries have started to tap into the tourism potential of their mangrove forests.
To save mangrove forest….
It is suggested that future studies focus on biological, chemistry and ecological aspects and their links with mangrove forest management. Linking scientific research with management issues should enable effective and efficient management guidelines for mangrove forest. These studies are also important in teaching the community the proper value of mangroves in terms of economic and biological aspects.
In the context of mangrove management in Malaysia, the National Forestry Policy applies. There are three management alternatives for mangrove areas: preservation or closed exploitation, conservation and conversion. Preservation in its natural state will be applied in mangrove areas without causing any damage to the system. It will be done with great care because it can lead to irreversible economic or ecological results if pushed too far. Conversion meanwhile will alter the condition of the mangrove ecosystem such that all other potential uses are foreclosed. The inputs required are much higher than in preservation or conservation.
Wetlands International-Asia Pacific in 1996 recommended a smart partnership based on an integrated framework for action as an alternative to the National Mangrove Management Plan of Malaysia. An integrated framework for action implies the process of government and community uniting with the science and management plan of protection and development of coastal ecosystem and resources. A smart partnership involving good public-private partnership is an excellent way to conserve the mangroves.
Mangrove ecosystem is a peculiar habitat found at the interface between land and sea. The term "mangrove" is being applied to the specific ecosystem of the intertidal world in the tropics and subtropics and the plant community of this ecosystem is termed as “mangrove vegetation”.
Many people think that mangroves are a few dwarf weedy plants along the shoreline but mangroves are much more than that. It is a whole ecosystem acting as a buffer between land and sea. Mangroves are extensions of tropical and sub-tropical forests into the sea.
Most mangrove forests in Malaysia are found along the coastline of Sabah (341,377 hectares) followed by those in Sarawak (172,792 hectares) and in Peninsular Malaysia (123,482 hectares). Over half the total mangrove forests are located in the East and South-east of Sabah. About 60% of the mangrove areas in Malaysia have been designated as forest reserves to be used for sustainable harvest of mangrove products.
Despite the importance of mangroves, they are being destroyed at an alarming rate and it has become an urgent matter to understand trophic interactions and material flow within these ecosystems. More than 35% of the world’s mangroves are already gone. The figure is as high as 50% in countries such as India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, while in the Americas they are being cleared at a rate faster than tropical rainforests. Malaysia has lost almost 30% of her mangroves and the rate is expected to continue at 1% a year.
The main culprit in the destruction of mangroves is man. Human have destroyed this magnificent ecosystem on the reason of development. Land reclamations, industrial effluents, dumping of all kinds of waste and debris in the mangrove area cause the degradation of mangrove forest. The waste or debris dump in mangroves area creates a barrier preventing the sea water from entering the mangroves and eventually kills the mangroves. In many instances, this is done intentionally to reclaim land for construction activity. There is an urgent need to stop this systematic degradation of mangroves.
Why should we protect mangroves?.....
· Coastal protection: The dense root systems of mangrove forests trap sediments flowing down rivers and off the land. This helps stabilizes the coastline and prevents erosion from waves and storms. In areas where mangroves have been cleared, coastal damage from hurricanes and typhoons is much more severe. By filtering out sediments, the forests also protect coral reefs and sea grass meadows from being smothered in sediment.
· Fisheries: Mangrove forests are home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species. These fisheries form an essential source of food for thousands of coastal communities around the world. The forests also serve as nurseries for many fish species, including coral reef fish. A study on the Mesoamerican reef, for example, showed that there are as many as 25 times more fish of some species on reefs close to mangrove areas than in areas where mangroves have been cut down.
· Timber and plant products: Mangrove wood is resistant to rot and insects, making it extremely valuable. Many coastal and indigenous communities rely on this wood for construction material as well as for fuel.
· Tourism: Given the diversity of life inhabiting mangrove systems, and their proximity in many cases to other tourist attractions such as coral reefs and sandy beaches, it is perhaps surprising that only a few countries have started to tap into the tourism potential of their mangrove forests.
To save mangrove forest….
It is suggested that future studies focus on biological, chemistry and ecological aspects and their links with mangrove forest management. Linking scientific research with management issues should enable effective and efficient management guidelines for mangrove forest. These studies are also important in teaching the community the proper value of mangroves in terms of economic and biological aspects.
In the context of mangrove management in Malaysia, the National Forestry Policy applies. There are three management alternatives for mangrove areas: preservation or closed exploitation, conservation and conversion. Preservation in its natural state will be applied in mangrove areas without causing any damage to the system. It will be done with great care because it can lead to irreversible economic or ecological results if pushed too far. Conversion meanwhile will alter the condition of the mangrove ecosystem such that all other potential uses are foreclosed. The inputs required are much higher than in preservation or conservation.
Wetlands International-Asia Pacific in 1996 recommended a smart partnership based on an integrated framework for action as an alternative to the National Mangrove Management Plan of Malaysia. An integrated framework for action implies the process of government and community uniting with the science and management plan of protection and development of coastal ecosystem and resources. A smart partnership involving good public-private partnership is an excellent way to conserve the mangroves.
