The book provides an up-to-date account of mangrove forests from Asia, together with restoration techniques, and the management requirements of these ecosystems to ensure their sustainability and conservation. All aspects of mangroves and their conservation are critically re-examined. The book is divided into three sections presenting the distribution and status of mangrove ecosystems in Asia, the challenges they are facing, their issues and opportunities, and the management strategies for their conservation.
This valuable book is a comprehensive volume on mangroves, with information accessible to both botany professionals and students. It provides an easy method of identifying mangroves and distinguishing one species from another. What is a mangrove and what are the criteria of mangroves are explained, along with descriptions of distinctions among major mangroves, mangrove associates, mangrove halophytes, and back mangals. Many photos and illustrations are provided, showing the visible features of mangroves. The volume also covers a range of other topics, including habitats and climatic conditions, morphological and reproductive features, how climate change is affecting mangroves and methods of mitigation and conservation. This book is about mangroves, the intertidal coastal forests that struggle every moment against hungry tides because mangroves flourish at the interface zone of land and sea. Like an evergreen forest in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mangroves form definite coastal vegetation, providing protection to people living in such fragile zones against the occurrence of frequent natural calamities. Key features: Introduces important facts about mangroves: definition, early records of mangroves, categorization, and more Looks at the distribution of mangroves worldwide along with features of mangrove habitats and climatic conditions Describes the ecology and environmental conditions, particularly the concept of intertidal zones along estuary positions where tidal flows inundate mangroves Discusses the distinct morphological attributes and reproductive phenology of major mangroves Details the attributes of mangroves, covering a total of 78 species of intertidal flora, including 32 true mangroves, along with their diagnostic features, salient attributes, and illustrations for easy identification Highlights the burning environmental issue of climate change and its impact on mangroves Provides a variety of methods of restoration, conservation, and protection of mangroves
Mangroves are a fascinating group of plants that occur on tropical and subtropical shorelines of all continents, where they are exposed to saltwater inundation, low oxygen levels around their roots, high light and temperature conditions, and periodic tropical storms. Despite these harsh conditions, mangroves may form luxuriant forests which are of significant economic and environmental value throughout the world - they provide coastal protection and underpin fisheries and forestry operations, as well as a range of other human activities. This book provides an up-to-date account of mangrove plants from around the world, together with silvicultural and restoration techniques, and the management requirements of these communities to ensure their sustainability and conservation. All aspects of mangroves and their conservation are critically re-examined. Those activities which threaten their ongoing survival are identified and suggestions are offered to minimise their effects on these significant plant communities.
Despite their importance in sustaining livelihoods for many people living along some of the world’s most populous coastlines, tropical mangrove forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Occupying a crucial place between land and sea, these tidal ecosystems provide a valuable ecological and economic resource as important nursery grounds and breeding sites for many organisms, and as a renewable source of wood and traditional foods and medicines. Perhaps most importantly, they are accumulation sites for sediment, contaminants, carbon and nutrients, and offer significant protection against coastal erosion. This book presents a functional overview of mangrove forest ecosystems; how they live and grow at the edge of tropical seas, how they play a critical role along most of the world’s tropical coasts, and how their future might look in a world affected by climate change. Such a process-oriented approach is necessary in order to further understand the role of these dynamic forests in ecosystem function, and as a first step towards developing adequate strategies for their conservation and sustainable use and management. The book will provide a valuable resource for researchers in mangrove ecology as well as reference for resource managers.
This book contains research findings from three major study areas, natural sciences, social sciences, and public policy and management. The focus area extends over geographical zones ranging from mountainous area of Mount Gagau in the Taman Negara National Park, down to the coastal islands of Bidong, Redang and Perhentian on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Chapters on natural sciences examine the physicochemical characteristics of water, physiological and ecological constraints to geological and climatological aspects. The social science and management chapters observe the rich ethno-heritage of local communities and how they interact and develop as a culture, and public policy for sustainable management. Viewpoints from political science, history, sociology, economics, anthropology and management science are also taken into account. This book is intended for researchers and graduate students to create an understanding of the rich heritage, while policy makers plan for future generations. Readers will benefit from this book by studying the gaps in the current knowledge and move to develop further research to understand the unexplored forest canopies and the dynamics of the changing Greater Kenyir landscapes.
