-
All about Mangroves
Mangroves in Singapore
Singapore: Pulau Tekong
Mangroves in Thailand
Thailand: Baan Bang La
MANGROVE CASE STUDIES
What are Mangroves?
Mangroves are a type of salt-tolerant vegetation that includes trees and shrubs with extensive below-surface root structures and deep sediments.
Among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics, storing carbon within its large pools of soil and dead roots⁷⁶.
Geographical Distribution
Mangroves have adapted to growing in saline conditions along the coastlines due to its aerial roots which assist to respire above the surface of the low-oxygenated water body ⁷⁶.
They are found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Though rare, they can also be found further north and south from the tropics.
They thrive on tropical coastlines such as Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and northern Australia ⁶⁹.
Pie chart of distribution of mangrove percentage per country ⁷⁸.
Distribution of mangroves worldwide⁷⁷.
Pressure on Mangroves ⁸⁷
About 3.6 million hectares of mangroves have been lost globally since 1980.
-
ELABORATION
People living in places with low technology or low income economies tend to rely on mangroves as a source of fuel and charcoal.
IMPACT
The clearance of mangroves reduces the breeding ground for fish and coasts to storm waves, for example in Indonesia.
-
ELABORATION
People clear away large areas of flat and well-watered mangroves to make way for paddy fields and shrimp farms.
IMPACT
For instance, in Thailand and Vietnam, the disappearance of mangroves makes the coasts more vulnerable.
-
ELABORATION
People remove mangroves to reclaim land for various developments such as housing, industrial and recreational use.
IMPACT
Costal development increases the likelihood of coastal waters being polluted due to human activities, for example in Caribbean islands.
-
ELABORATION
Climate change can make the sea level rise quickly as well as cause extreme storm activity to occur more often.
IMPACT
Mangroves are unable to grow further inland despite the rise in the sea level because they need to compete with human activities such as farming or the set-up of sea defenses, for example in the Gulf of Thailand
Amount of carbon sequestered in its trees and branches: Approximately 1% (13.5 Gross tonnage year-1)
Amount of carbon sequestered in their roots: 14% of carbon sequestration ⁷⁶.
If mangrove forests are disturbed, resultant gas emissions may be very high.
Mangroves Impact on the Ecosystem ⁸⁵
Their extensive root structures provide shelter and habitat for commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish.
Mangroves also provide fuel for cooking and construction materials.
Acts as a buffer against coastal erosion and protection from storms.
Coastal forests help the fight against global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, most of which is stored within the plant.
Mangroves act as natural ocean buffers for coastal settlements⁸⁵.