SK KING EDWARD VII (1): July 2009

THE MAGIC OF MANGROVE

Fatimah bt.Mamat
Lutfil Haridz b. Abdul Malik
Sayniish Pillai A/L Muniandy
Muhd. Najhan Hilmi b.Hariri
SK King Edward VII (1)

CONTENTS

1.0 What is mangrove?
1.1 Mangrove ecosystem
2.0 The importance of mangrove
3.0 Mangrove swamps in Malaysia
3.1 Mangrove swamps in Sabah
3.2 Mangrove swamps in Sarawak
3.3 Mangrove swamps in Penisular Malaysia
3.4 Natural beauty of Matang Mangrove Forest
3.5 Flora and fauna in Matang Mangrove Forest
4.0 Threats to mangrove forest
5.0 Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation
6.0 References

1.0 What is mangrove?

Mangrove or its scientific name “Rhizophora mangle"¹ is a tropical tree with roots that extend both above and beneath the water. Mangrove is a unique tree because it can survive in the water. The term 'mangrove' may have been derived from a combination of the Malay word 'manggi-manggi', for a type of mangrove tree (Avicennia) and the Arabic 'el gurm', for the same, as 'mang-gurm'. As a word, it can be used to refer to a species, plant, forest or community.²There are a lot of Mangroves areas worldwide. Mangrove swamps or mangal also can be found in Africa Region, America, South Africa and Asia.

1.1 Mangrove ecosystem

Mangrove ecosystems consist of flora and fauna. Besides species of mangrove, types of flora are plants, ferns, fungi, flowering plants and so on. Types of fauna are divided into two which are invertebrates and vertebrates. Examples for invertebrates are insects, worms, crabs, spiders, mites and so on. Examples of vertebrates are birds, fishes, amphibians, mammals and so on.³

2.0 The importance of mangrove

The importance of mangrove are listed below :-

- Shore Porection – It’s roots help protect shores from the erosions due to storms.

- Habitat for life – It protects habitat for birds, mammals, fish and others.

- Nursery grounds for juvenile fish.

- Mangroves Support Threatened and Endangered Species⁴

- Renewable Resource⁵– Mangroves are utilized in may parts of the world as a renewable resource. In Florida, beekeepers have set up their hives close to mangroves in order to use the nectar in honey production.

- Commercial uses - Mangrove is a source of timber, fuel, railroad ties and tannin in the tropics. Having a short crop rotation period makes red mangroves a popular choice for the construction of boats, houses and furniture. The wood of the tree has a high calorific value, meaning it produces high heat when burned, making it the wood of choice in the manufacture of charcoal in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. It is used for BBQ in restaurants, outdoor picnic charcoal packs, and in some industrial applications like metal production. The bark, leaf shoots and roots of the trees supply tannin used for dyes, leather preservatives and furniture stains. Mangroves are being studied as a source of pesticides and agrochemical compounds. Resin extracted from the tree is used in producing plywood adhesives.

Medical uses - to relieve pain⁶

3.0 Mangrove swamps in Malaysia

There are 586.036 hectares of mangrove forest in Malaysia; 57% of it are in Sabah, 26% of Sarawak and 17% in Peninsular Malaysia. In Penisular Malaysia, mangrove forest occupied 107,720 hectares. About 3,456 hectares occupied in East Coast of Penisular Malaysia.The islands beaches border the most fully occupied with mangroves are 6 mangrove islands that cluster Pulau Klang and Pulau Kukup in Johor.

3.1 Mangrove swamps in Sabah

Likas Mangrove Swamp Forest⁷is one of Mangrove Swamp in Sabah. Likas Mangrove Swamp Forests located near the sea and the outlying area of the river estuary and is located in the tidal zone where water carrying salty water from the sea twice a day. Mangrove swamps in Sabah consist a lot of exclusive flora and fauna.

3.2 Mangrove swamps in Sarawak⁸

In Sarawak, mangrove swamps cover an area of approximately 173,792 hectares. The mangrove swamp sustains many different species of trees. The main species are of course the black and red mangrove, locally known as the 'Bako'. They are used in the construction industry for piling and also as charcoal for cooking and other usage. There are several mangrove forest in Sarawak such as Rajang Mangroves National Park, Silimajau National Park and Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary and so on.

3.3 Mangrove swamps in Penisular Malaysia

One of famous mangrove swamps in Penisular Malaysia is Matang Mangrove Forest. It located in Perak State in peninsular Malaysia is one of the best examples of a sustainably managed mangrove forest. With an area of about 40,000 hectares (about 154 square miles), the reserve is the largest tract of mangrove forests in peninsular Malaysia. Mangrove forest in Terengganu can be found in Setiu. Mangrove in Pahang can be found in Sungai Balok, Sungai Buah Keras Mangrove Forest Reserve, Bebar Mangrove Forest Reserve and so on. There are also mangrove forest in Langkawi, Perlis, Kedah and other part of Penisular Malaysia. Most of the places have been used as tourism places.

3.4 Natural beauty of Matang Mangrove Forest

Matang Mangrove Forest is a vital asset as power pulling eco ramble. Mangrove roots that have a unique and basic uniform that will bring memories that one cannot be overlooked. Natural beauty is not only interesting aspect of the fact it also works as a construction marine life. Crown with specifics mangroves and direct relationships with the local ecosystem will bring more value-added to this forest. Matang Mangrove Forest has other attraction such as :-

a. Eco-park and research

Matang Mangrove Forest is not an ordinary forest but it also an eco-park and research centre for students. Students can learn a lot about nature life and the ecosystem from this forest. They can do the

observations and also can get help from the experts (Forestry Department) about the information related to this forest. There are specifics types of insects and ringworm. There are basic types of vegetation such as rattan and mangrove species. At here also there is a pedestrian platform (Boardwalk) for facilitate visitor entry.

b. Hutan Simpanan Dara "Virgin Jungle Reserve"

c. Archaeological Sites in Pulau Kalumpang⁹

d. Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary

e. Charcoal Production

f. Fish Rearing

3.5 Flora and fauna in Matang Mangrove Forest

Some of flora and fauna found in Matang Mangrove Forest are as below :-

a. Ferns

Piai Lasa (Acrostichum Speciosum)

Piai Raya ( Acrostichum aureum )

Tumu Merah “The Bruguiera gymnorhiza

c. Bakau Pasir (Rizhophora stylosa)

d. Bakau Minyak "Rhizophora apiculata '"

e. Avicennia atau api-api

Invertebrates (centipedes, snails, worms etc)

Fungi (ganoderma)

4.0 Threats to mangrove forest

Mangrove forests are one of the world’s most threatened tropical 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.

Threats to mangrove forests and their habitats include:

Clearing
Mangrove forests have often been seen as unproductive and smelly and are cleared to make room for agricultural land, human settlements and infrastructure (such as harbours) and industrial areas. More recently, clearing for tourist developments, shrimp aquaculture, and salt farms have also taken place. This clearing is a major factor behind mangrove loss around the world.
Over harvesting
Mangrove trees are used for firewood, construction wood, wood chip and pulp production, charcoal production and animal fodder. However, in some parts of the world harvesting is no longer sustainable, threatening the future of the forests.
River changes
Dams and irrigation reduce the amount of water reaching mangrove forests, changing the water’s salinity level in the forest. If salinity becomes too high, the mangroves cannot survive. Freshwater diversions can also lead to mangroves drying out. In addition, increased erosion due to land deforestation can massively increase the amount of sediment in rivers. This can reduce the mangrove forest’s filtering ability, leading to the forest being smothered.
Over fishing
The global over fishing crisis facing the world’s oceans not only affects the overfished population but also alters the ecological balance of food chains and mangrove fish communities.
Destruction of nearby coral reefs
Coral reefs provide the first barrier against currents and strong waves. When they are destroyed, the stronger-than-normal waves and currents reaching the coast can undermine the fine sediment in which the mangroves grow. This can prevent seedlings from taking root and wash away nutrients essential for mangrove ecosystems.
Pollution
Fertilizers, pesticides and other toxic man-made chemicals carried by river systems from sources upstream can kill animals living in mangrove forests, while oil pollution can smother mangrove roots and suffocate the trees.
Climate change
Mangrove forests require stable sea levels for long-term survival. They are therefore extremely sensitive to current rising sea levels caused by global warming and climate change.

5.0 Mangrove Conservation and Rehabilitation

There are major steps taken by government sector, private sector and NGO’s to conserve the mangrove forest in Malaysia. Some of them are :

a. Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gulatened tropical ecosystems.
b.Program Tanam Bakau bersama Komuniti 20-21 Disember 2008.c. Special programme to improve quality of life through sustainable environmental management by UNDP.
d.National Coastline Forest Rehabilitation Awareness Campaign¹⁰

6.0 References

Book
1. Kajian Tempatan Tahun 5 (2007), Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Newsletter
1. Newsletter "Hutan Paya Laut Matang, Kuala Sepetang".

Web

http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?o2=&o0=1&o7=&o5=&o1=1&o6=&o4=&o3=&s=Rhizophora+mangle, June 4th, 2009.
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1002.htm,
June 20th, 2009
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/fauna.htm.
June 20th, 2009
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/Fish/southflorida/mangrove/importance.htm
June 29th, 2009
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/Fish/southflorida/mangrove/importance.html
June 29th, 2009
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~mmichie/mangr5.htm
July 4th, 2009
http://madeinsabah.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/kota-kinabalu-wet-land-centre/
June 16th, 2009
http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/
June 19th,2009
http://thestar.com.my/news/
June 23rd, 2009
http://bakau.forestry.gov.my/
June 30th, 2009

http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?o2=&o0=1&o7=&o5=&o1=1&o6=&o4=&o3=&s=Rhizophora+mangle, June 4th, 2009.
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1002.htm,
June 20th, 2009
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/fauna.htm.
June 20th, 2009
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/Fish/southflorida/mangrove/importance.htm
June 29th, 2009
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/Fish/southflorida/mangrove/importance.html
June 29th, 2009
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~mmichie/mangr5.htm
July 4th, 2009
http://madeinsabah.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/kota-kinabalu-wet-land-centre/
June 16th, 2009
http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/
June 19th,2009
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/3/23/north/16887369&sec=north,
June 23rd, 2009
http://bakau.forestry.gov.my/
June 30th, 2009

Visitors

Monday, July 27, 2009

Friday, July 10, 2009

Thursday, July 9, 2009

THE MAGIC OF MANGROVE

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

New Update

LOCATION

LINKS

Followers

Contributors

Entri Terkini

Archives

CHAT

SK KE VII (1) INFO

TAQWIM HIJRI

Jom Kita Borak

Utusan Online

SEARCH ENTRY

TIME IS GOLD

About

Labels

Archive