STATUS AND TRENDS IN MANGROVE AREA EXTENT WORLDWIDE

Malaysia

Vegetation description

Mangrove forests are mainly found on the marine alluvium along sheltered coasts and estuarias both in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. They are of simple structure with Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera, Sonneratia and Xylocarpus sp. in species-specific belts depending on soil and inundation patterns. Tree height ranges between 7 and 25 m. Local people use wood from mangroves for building materials, for fish traps, and also for firewood and charcoal. Two types of swamp palm are also included in the forest, nipah (Nypa fructicans) and nibong (Oncosperma horrida). Nypa fructicans is a general utility species providing local products such as housing thatch, cigarette paper, sugar, alcohol, vinegar and salt. This species frequently occurs in pure stands, while nibong occurs in the drier zone of the mangrove forest.

FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.

National level mangrove area estimates

Year

Area
(ha)

Source

Trend

Methodology/Comments

1975

688 634

FAO. 1982. Management and utilization of mangroves in Asia and the Pacific. FAO environment paper 3. 160 pp.

X

Compiled information based on: West Malaysia: FAO. 1973. Forestry and forest industries development. Malaysia. A national forest inventory of West Malaysia, 1970-72. Kuala Lumpur. 259 p. DO/DP/MAL/72/009/TR5. Sarawak: Forest Department. 1976. Annual Report of the Forest Department. Sattawak. Sabah: Liew, T.C., Diah, M.N., and Wong Y.C. 1977. Mangrove exploitation and regeneration in Sabah. In: Sastry, C.B., Srivastava, P.B.L. and Ahman, A.M. A new Era in Malaysian Forestry. p. 95-109. Serdang, Malaysia.

1977

655 572

de la Cruz, A. A. 1984. A realistic approach to the use and management of mangrove areas in Southeast Asia. In: Teas, H.J., ed. 1984. Physiology and management of mangroves. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague. The Netherlands.

Calculated from figures reported in the Proceedings of the Workshop on Mangrove and Estuarine Vegetation. 10 Dec 1977. University Pertanian Malaysia Fakulti Perhutanan, Serdang, Selangor. Secondary source, no primary source provided.

1978

637 739

Ong, J.E. 1978. Mangroves in Malaysia. In: P. Kunstadter and Snedaker S.C.

Cited in: Snedaker, S.C. 1984. The mangroves of Asia and Oceania: status and research planning. In: Proceedings of the Asian Mangrove Symposium. eds. Soepadmo,E; Rao,AN; McIntosh, DJ. p. 5-15. Percetakan Ardyas Sdn Bhd., Kuala Lumpur. 25-29 August 1980, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

1979

652 219

Sasekumar, A. 1980. Status report on impact of pollution on mangrove ecosystems and related research programmes in Malaysia. Country paper presented during the 12th annual seminar/convention. Federation of Institutions for Marine and Freshwater Sciences.

Cited in: Gomez, E.D. 1980. The present state of Mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the Impact of Pollution: Regional. Philippines. South China Seas Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme, FAO, UNEP, Manila. 128 pp.

1980

630 000

FAO. 1984. Mangrove Forests in Asia - Pacific Region A summary of available information. GCP/RAS/106/JPN Field Document 1, Bangkok, 44 pp.

Figure based on information provided by Department of Forestry, Malaysia (1980). It appears to be a rough estimate.

1980

674 000

FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia FAO, UNEP, 475 pp

X

Information compiled on the basis of several sources. Updating of aerial photographs and estimation.

1984

642 400

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

X

Map analysis. (Sabah 1:1 270 000 Sarawak 1:1 000 000. Peninsular
1:1 000 000) According to the authors, the estimate by Chan et al., 1993 (see below) likely to be more accurate

1986

577 000

NATMANCOM. 1981. Guidelines for the use of the mangrove ecosystem for brackishwater aquaculture in Malaysia. Paper prepared by the committee formed under the auspices of the National Council for Scientific Research and Development, Ministry of Sciences Technology and Environment.

This figure should be considered as on the lower side of the extent of mangroves. Secondary reference, no primary source provided.

1990

641 172

Anon. 1989. Forestry in Sabah, Malaysia. Sabah Forestry Department Publication. 164pp.; Anon. 1991. Forestry in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sarawak Forestry Department Publication. 47 pp.; Chan, H.T. 1991. The need to develop a management scheme for mangrove forest in South Johor to ensure resource sustenance. In: Chou, L.M. et al. eds. Towards an Integrated Management of Tropical Coastal Resources. 311-315 pp. ICLARM Conference Proceedings 22 Manila, Philippines. 455 pp.

X

Cited in: Chan, H.T., J.E. Ong, W.K. Gong and A. Sasekumar. 1993. The socio-economic, ecological and environmental values of mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia and their present state of conservation. The Economic and environmental values of mangrove forests and their present state of conservation in the South-East Asia/Pacific Region. p. 41-81. Mangrove Ecosystems Technical Reports vol.3 ITTO/ISME/JIAM Project PD71/89. Rev. 1(F) Okinawa, Japan, ISME. 202 pp. The "Year" is the average weighted year.

1995

650 000

Kelleher, G., Bleakley, C. and Wells, S. 1995. A global representative system of marine protected areas. Vol.II-III-IV Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, IBRD, The World Bank, IUCN. IBRD

Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. The figure seems a rough estimate.

1995

620 000

FAO, 1997. Asia-pacific forestry sector outlook study. Country Report – Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study. Working Paper Series (FAO), no. 7 / FAO, Bangkok (Thailand). Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific , Jun 1997 , 30 pp.

Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. Rough estimate reporting figures from previous years.

1995

587 269

Ibid.

X

Combined national level mangrove estimate based on the following sources: Peninsular: Perak State Forestry Department. 2001. Matang Mangrove Forest. (Ref Year: 2000) Sarawak: Chan, H.T., J.E. Ong, W.K. Gong and A. Sasekumar. 1993. The socio-economic, ecological and environmental values of mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia and their present state of conservation. The Economic and environmental values of mangrove forests and their present state of conservation in the South-East Asia/Pacific Region. p. 41-81. Mangrove Ecosystems Technical Reports vol.3 ITTO/ISME/JIAM Project PD71/89. Rev. 1(F) Okinawa, Japan, ISME. 202 pp. (Ref Year: 1989). Sabah: Sabah Forestry Department. 1997. Annual Report 1997. (Ref Year: 1997). The reference year is the area weighted average.

1996

98 300

WRI, UNEP, UNDP, The World Bank. 1996. World Resources 1996-1997. New York and Oxford University Press 365 pp.

This figure represents only the Peninsular Malaysia mangroves.

2000

232 700

World Resources Institute. 2000. World resources 2000-2001: people and ecosystem—the fraying web of life. Washington, DC., UNDP. 400 pp.

Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year.

2000

640 000

Aizpuru, M., Achard, F., and Blasco, F. 2000. Global Assessment of Cover Change of the Mangrove Forests using satellite imagery at medium to high resolution. In EEC Research project n 15017-1999-05 FIED ISP FR – Joint Research center, Ispra.

Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year.

Year	Area (ha)	Source	Trend	Methodology/Comments
1975	688 634	FAO. 1982. Management and utilization of mangroves in Asia and the Pacific. FAO environment paper 3. 160 pp.	X	Compiled information based on: West Malaysia: FAO. 1973. Forestry and forest industries development. Malaysia. A national forest inventory of West Malaysia, 1970-72. Kuala Lumpur. 259 p. DO/DP/MAL/72/009/TR5. Sarawak: Forest Department. 1976. Annual Report of the Forest Department. Sattawak. Sabah: Liew, T.C., Diah, M.N., and Wong Y.C. 1977. Mangrove exploitation and regeneration in Sabah. In: Sastry, C.B., Srivastava, P.B.L. and Ahman, A.M. A new Era in Malaysian Forestry. p. 95-109. Serdang, Malaysia.
1977	655 572	de la Cruz, A. A. 1984. A realistic approach to the use and management of mangrove areas in Southeast Asia. In: Teas, H.J., ed. 1984. Physiology and management of mangroves. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague. The Netherlands.		Calculated from figures reported in the Proceedings of the Workshop on Mangrove and Estuarine Vegetation. 10 Dec 1977. University Pertanian Malaysia Fakulti Perhutanan, Serdang, Selangor. Secondary source, no primary source provided.
1978	637 739	Ong, J.E. 1978. Mangroves in Malaysia. In: P. Kunstadter and Snedaker S.C.		Cited in: Snedaker, S.C. 1984. The mangroves of Asia and Oceania: status and research planning. In: Proceedings of the Asian Mangrove Symposium. eds. Soepadmo,E; Rao,AN; McIntosh, DJ. p. 5-15. Percetakan Ardyas Sdn Bhd., Kuala Lumpur. 25-29 August 1980, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1979	652 219	Sasekumar, A. 1980. Status report on impact of pollution on mangrove ecosystems and related research programmes in Malaysia. Country paper presented during the 12th annual seminar/convention. Federation of Institutions for Marine and Freshwater Sciences.		Cited in: Gomez, E.D. 1980. The present state of Mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the Impact of Pollution: Regional. Philippines. South China Seas Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme, FAO, UNEP, Manila. 128 pp.
1980	630 000	FAO. 1984. Mangrove Forests in Asia - Pacific Region A summary of available information. GCP/RAS/106/JPN Field Document 1, Bangkok, 44 pp.		Figure based on information provided by Department of Forestry, Malaysia (1980). It appears to be a rough estimate.
1980	674 000	FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia FAO, UNEP, 475 pp	X	Information compiled on the basis of several sources. Updating of aerial photographs and estimation.
1984	642 400	Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp.	X	Map analysis. (Sabah 1:1 270 000 Sarawak 1:1 000 000. Peninsular 1:1 000 000) According to the authors, the estimate by Chan et al., 1993 (see below) likely to be more accurate
1986	577 000	NATMANCOM. 1981. Guidelines for the use of the mangrove ecosystem for brackishwater aquaculture in Malaysia. Paper prepared by the committee formed under the auspices of the National Council for Scientific Research and Development, Ministry of Sciences Technology and Environment.		This figure should be considered as on the lower side of the extent of mangroves. Secondary reference, no primary source provided.
1990	641 172	Anon. 1989. Forestry in Sabah, Malaysia. Sabah Forestry Department Publication. 164pp.; Anon. 1991. Forestry in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sarawak Forestry Department Publication. 47 pp.; Chan, H.T. 1991. The need to develop a management scheme for mangrove forest in South Johor to ensure resource sustenance. In: Chou, L.M. et al. eds. Towards an Integrated Management of Tropical Coastal Resources. 311-315 pp. ICLARM Conference Proceedings 22 Manila, Philippines. 455 pp.	X	Cited in: Chan, H.T., J.E. Ong, W.K. Gong and A. Sasekumar. 1993. The socio-economic, ecological and environmental values of mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia and their present state of conservation. The Economic and environmental values of mangrove forests and their present state of conservation in the South-East Asia/Pacific Region. p. 41-81. Mangrove Ecosystems Technical Reports vol.3 ITTO/ISME/JIAM Project PD71/89. Rev. 1(F) Okinawa, Japan, ISME. 202 pp. The "Year" is the average weighted year.
1995	650 000	Kelleher, G., Bleakley, C. and Wells, S. 1995. A global representative system of marine protected areas. Vol.II-III-IV Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, IBRD, The World Bank, IUCN. IBRD		Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. The figure seems a rough estimate.
1995	620 000	FAO, 1997. Asia-pacific forestry sector outlook study. Country Report – Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study. Working Paper Series (FAO), no. 7 / FAO, Bangkok (Thailand). Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific , Jun 1997 , 30 pp.		Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. Rough estimate reporting figures from previous years.
1995	587 269	Ibid.	X	Combined national level mangrove estimate based on the following sources: Peninsular: Perak State Forestry Department. 2001. Matang Mangrove Forest. (Ref Year: 2000) Sarawak: Chan, H.T., J.E. Ong, W.K. Gong and A. Sasekumar. 1993. The socio-economic, ecological and environmental values of mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia and their present state of conservation. The Economic and environmental values of mangrove forests and their present state of conservation in the South-East Asia/Pacific Region. p. 41-81. Mangrove Ecosystems Technical Reports vol.3 ITTO/ISME/JIAM Project PD71/89. Rev. 1(F) Okinawa, Japan, ISME. 202 pp. (Ref Year: 1989). Sabah: Sabah Forestry Department. 1997. Annual Report 1997. (Ref Year: 1997). The reference year is the area weighted average.
1996	98 300	WRI, UNEP, UNDP, The World Bank. 1996. World Resources 1996-1997. New York and Oxford University Press 365 pp.		This figure represents only the Peninsular Malaysia mangroves.
2000	232 700	World Resources Institute. 2000. World resources 2000-2001: people and ecosystem—the fraying web of life. Washington, DC., UNDP. 400 pp.		Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year.
2000	640 000	Aizpuru, M., Achard, F., and Blasco, F. 2000. Global Assessment of Cover Change of the Mangrove Forests using satellite imagery at medium to high resolution. In EEC Research project n 15017-1999-05 FIED ISP FR – Joint Research center, Ispra.		Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year.

Malaysia

Vegetation description

National level mangrove area estimates

Trends in mangrove area extent over time