Mangrove description - Malaysia

Mangroves are found on all coasts, with the largest area on the coast of Sabah, concentrated particularly in the northeast. Sarawak also has considerable areas, mostly concentrated in the deltas of the Sarawak, Rajang and Trusan-Lawas rivers. The most of the country's mangroves is concentrated on the more sheltered west coast. In all areas the climate is hot and humid with high rainfall. There is a very high diversity of species, which in some areas show a relatively clear zonation pattern. Typically, there is an Avicennia-Sonneratia community on the seaward sediments, where there is soft, deep mud, though Rhizophora-Bruguiera forest is often the most dominant. More inland, where the soils are firmer, a much wider array of species are typically found. In some areas, Nypa palms form the dominant species, particularly where there is a greater freshwater influence. Rates of accretion can be very high, with some areas in southern Peninsular Malaysia gaining 40 m per year. Tree height ranges between 7 and 25 m. Two types of swamp palm are also included in the forest, nipah (Nypa fruticans) and nibong (Oncosperma horrida)

Uses and threats
Coastal erosion rates can be high, however, and it has been suggested that these have been exacerbated by the removal of mangroves from many areas. Mangrove losses have been considerable in many parts of Malaysia: the area of forest reserves between 1980 and 1990 decreased mostly through loss of forest area to agriculture, urban development, shrimp ponds and deforestation. The use of mangrove areas in Malaysia has a long history. Traditionally, they have been harvested for fuelwood, charcoal, timber, poles and fish traps. Nypa fruticans is a general utility species providing local products such as housing thatch, cigarette paper, sugar, alcohol, vinegar and salt. The Matang forest on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysiahas been sustainable managed since the start of this century and is one of the very few examples of successful sustained management of a tropical forest ecosystem in the world. In addition to a timber industry employing some 2 400 people, with a revenue of US$ 6 million per year, there is an associated fishing industry in the area which employs about 10 000 people with an annual revenue of US$ 12-30 million. As in other countries, offshore fisheries are very important and have been closely linked to the mangroves for a number of fish and prawn species. Aquaculture practices include cockle culture, the widespread use of floating cages for fish, and the destructive development of ponds, mostly for prawn culture, Although recent, this latter activity has spread very quickly, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, leading to the clearance of large areas. The National Mangrove Committee of Malaysia has strongly suggested that strict guidelines should be established for the development of this industry in the future. Clearance for agriculture has occurred, but in some cases has been very unsuccessful due to the acidification of the soils. Considerable areas are now being reclaimed, again particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, for urban development and the development of tourist resorts. In some areas the replanting of mangroves is taking place and this is a routine activity in the Matang mangrove forest. All mangroves come under the jurisdiction of the respective State Forest Departments. Only a very small percentage of Malaysian mangroves fall within legally gazetted protected areas: 0.3% in Peninsular Malaysia; 0.2% in Sarawak; and 1.3% in Sabah.

FAO & UNEP. 1981. Tropical forest resources assesment project. Forest resources of tropical asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.

Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. & Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp.

Play a role in the preparation of the revised World Atlas of Mangroves

The information provided above will be used as an input to the revised World Atlas of Mangroves and as national level description in the Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2005 Thematic study on Mangroves.

During the past months the information has been updated thanks to the kind collaboration of several national and international experts, who has helped the Initiative in collecting recent data. The collection has been now completed and the page will be updated as soon as possible.

The Initiative would like to thank all the people who contributed with additional data, for the improvement of the information on this country. All the support provided will be duly acknowledged in the country profiles.

For further information log on website :
http://www.fao.org/forestry/mangrove/vegetation/en/mys/