11 Nov 2017
A site visit at Kuala Selangor Nature Park for a report about mangrove swamp .
A site visit at Kuala Selangor Nature Park for a report about mangrove swamp .
INTRODUCTION
Mangroves
are a group of trees and shrubs that grows along the coast in the intertidal
zone. It is a forest that have an
ecosystem that protected along the coast. The trees and shrubs grows in saline
soil and brackish water subject to periodic fresh and salt water over flow. The
mangrove trees have their own uniqueness of features. Leaf structures,
particular types of bark, and tough root system are the example of uniqueness
of features. The features will help them to survive. Mangrove forest is a very
dynamic and highly productive ecosystem. It plays multiple ecological functions
that important to its surrounding habitats and essential resources for coastal
communities
The
mangrove forest studied on the field trip which were located at Taman Alam ,
Kuala Selangor. The Kuala Selangor Nature Park (or KSNP for short) was based on coastal mangrove swamp area . The nature
park is managed by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). This is because this swamp plays an important role
as conservation area for coastal and riverside mangrove, while
serving as a nature education center .
The coastline , consisting of distinct habitat which include inland secondary
forests, muddy estuaries and mudflats, and a brackish lake that is inhibited by
wetland animals.
The area also has more than 150 species of birds and an estimated 100,000
wading birds, comprising 30 species, passing through here on their annual
migration. Thus bird watching is perhaps one interesting activity in Kuala
Selangor Nature Park.
There are four trail to take to view the wildlife. They are the Egret
Trail (550 metres), Pangolin Trail (1km), Coastal Bund (1.7km) and Langur Trail
(1.1km) . It only took couple of hour to cater those trails.
This trip
really help us out to get exposed with the real ecosystem of mangrove forest in
Malaysia. It was a precious moment to get closer with those attractive habitat
that were living in Taman Alam. This trip successfully make every each of us be
more knowledgeable on mangrove forest reservation .
KUALA SELANGOR NATURE PARK
The field trip that had been studied for mangrove forest is
Kuala Selangor Nature Park. The field trip is to do some research and study
information and gain knowledge with experienced practically about the mangrove
forest. Kuala Selangor Nature Park or also known as Taman Alam Kuala Selangor
is one of the mangrove forests that had been gazette as to conserve the
mangrove forest within the reserve forest or protected area.
In 1987, Kuala Selangor Nature Park was
created. It was set aside for a golf
development but the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) cooperated with the Selangor
State Government, saved and rescued the 800 acre coastal site from been damage
and organize the nature conservation park. In order to maintain the facilities,
accommodation and the park, Malaysia Nature Society has done a good job by
attracting corporate sponsorship and financial support for the park. The Bird
Life International have been recognized the efforts been made and
become a global partnership of conservation organizations that responsible
designated the park an Important Bird Area.
There is a dig shallow lake with
island that comprising the park to enhance the wildlife habitat. It is accommodate
in 324 hectare of land be made up of coastal mangroves which 104 hectare, 200
hectare of secondary forest, 20 acres of a brackish water lake and mangrove
conservation. The park is a place that acts as a sanctuary and shelters over
156 species of local and migratory birds, mammals, insects, mollusks, crabs,
fish, reptiles and amphibians. There are also become a habitat for special
features and characteristics of animals such as mudskippers, mud lobster, king
crab, otters, leopard cats and silvered-leaf monkey. And, some of the fauna is
threatened.
OBJECTIVES OF THE TRIP
The purpose
of trip to Taman Alam provides the student an opportunity to integrate social
work theory and knowledge from a generalist perspective , other than that it is
also for observation which is non-experimental research where it provide
students with experiences . The trip placement provides a well structured
environment in an urban-based setting for students to apply generalist
knowledge, values and skills learned in the classroom. The field trip
objectives are designed for student to gain first hand knowledge of mangrove
forest and their important for reservation Ecological
services by mangrove forest and also to know the measure to conserve mangrove
forest.
IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVE FOREST RESERVES
The Mangrove Forest
Reserve is known as the best managed sustainable mangrove ecosystem in the
world. This mangrove reserve contains rich and diverse wildlife that provide
nature lovers to visit and explore its wetlands and resources. You can stroll
along the wooden boardwalk and observe forestry and fishing activities and
denizens that thrive in the muddy mangrove floor. Visit the mangrove forest and
charcoal kiln sites which are found more inland. Bird watching and fishing are
the primary activities in the morning while at night get a boat ride to see
synchronized blinking lights of fireflies.
But there are a lot of importance of mangrove forest
reserve as from the ecological aspects,
forest has an important role of protecting, controlling and being a
producer for it’s natural surrounding :
·
protect
coastlines against erosive wave action and strong coastal winds,
and serve as natural barriers against tsunamis and torrential storms.
·
prevent
salt water from intruding into rivers. Maintain stability of water
circulation such as to balance water content below soil balance daily
temperature and influence air movement.
·
retain,
concentrate and recycle nutrients and remove toxicants through a
natural filtering process.
·
provide
resources for coastal communities who depend on the plants for
timber, fuel, food, medicinal herbs and other forest products.
·
Are an important
breeding ground for many fishes, crabs, prawns and other marine
animals, essential for sustaining a viable fishing industry. Malaysia's
mangroves are more diverse than those in tropical Australia, the Red Sea,
tropical Africa and the Americas. About 50% of fish landings on the west coast
of Peninsular Malaysia are associated with mangroves
·
Controlling and balancing the contents of gasses
in the atmosphere such as Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
·
Preserving historic and cultural features of
importance to the traditional lifestyles and well-being of local peoples
·
Preservation of species and genetic diversity
·
Education , tourism and recreation
ECOLOGICAL SERVICES BY MANGROVE FOREST
Taman
Alam Mangrove is a plant community that has adapted to live in the inter tidal
zone in the coastal zone . Mangroves have special adaptations against the hard
environmental conditions. One of the most highly productive ecosystem
·
Flood
control
·
Groundwater
refill
·
Shoreline
stabilization & storm protection
·
Sediment
& nutrient retention and export
·
Water
purification
·
Reservoirs
of biodiversity
·
Cultural
values
·
Recreation
& tourism
·
Climate
change mitigation and adaptation
·
Wetland
products
·
Fish
and other fishery
·
Provide
fuel wood and building material
MEASURE TO CONSERVE MANGROVE FOREST
Mangrove forests are vital for healthy coastal
ecosystems in many regions of the world and research and studies are revealing
the unique importance of these habitats to the planet. Mangroves literally live
in two worlds at once, making up a transitional zone between land and sea, whilst
connecting and supporting both.
The alternative way for saving the mangrove is
by involving local people. This management practice are used in conserving the
Matang Mangrove forests (Malaysia) which i think a successful one. By giving
awareness to the local communities, automatically they will feel the important
of this halophytic plant to them.
·
Given the enormous benefits of mangrove forests, proper management and
conservation is therefore necessary to ensure the continued existence of
mangrove forests. Carry out public education programs. Promote
ecological tourism in mangrove areas.
·
Enforce existing conservation laws. Reforest
shrimp farm intake and discharge canals.
·
Actively experiment to develop sustainable
agriculture in estuaries, integrating mangroves and productivity of
agriculture.
- · Zone mangrove areas according to appropriate uses.
- · Restore mangrove area hydrology.
- · Create buffer zones around shrimp ponds.
- · Plant emerging islands with mangroves.
- · Manage timber harvesting, and institute site-specific mangrove forest management.
- · Protect freshwater inflow to mangrove estuaries.
- · Prepare optimal use plans for all activities in the intertidal zone.
- · Reforest abandoned shrimp farms.
Conservation of mangroves also can be enhanced by:
·
Gazetting all
remaining mangrove forests within forest reserves or
protected areas. Some mangrove forests are already gazetted such as the Matang
Forest Reserve in Perak, the Kuala Selangor Nature Park in Selangor, the Bako
National Park in Sarawak, the Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary and Sepilok
Forest Reserve in Sabah. But many other mangrove areas are still without any
protection.
·
Devising
well-balanced coastal land-use plans, such as maintaining
sustainable limits in logging and other harvesting activities of its resources.
·
Retaining
protective mangrove buffers along coastlines and rivers to
prevent erosion.
·
Managing
mangrove forests as fishery reserves to encourage
environmentally-sensitive commercial aquaculture activities. Raising public
awareness and educating the community to discourage indiscriminate clearing.
·
Introduction of
social forestry schemes. Damaged forest areas can be planted
and managed for small-scale village timber enterprises. Mangrove species like Rhizophora mucronata or R. apiculata are
particularly ideal for mangrove plantations as they are both fast growing and
lucrative.
REFERENCES
·
CBEMR; ‘A
Successful Method Of Mangrove Restroration Mangrove Action Project’;
Retrieved from http://www.mangroveactionproject.org/cbemr/
·
Alejandro Bodero Q, Donald Robadue; Mangrove
Ecosystems; ‘Strategies For Managing
Mangrove Ecosystems’; 2006; Retrieved from http://www.crc.uri.edu/download/8YearsEnglish_Mangroves.pdf
·
Hery Purnobasuki; ‘What Is The Most Effective Way To Save Mangrove’; 2014; Retrieved
from https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_most_effective_way_to_save_mangrove
·
WWF Malaysia; ‘Mangrove Forest’; Retrieved from http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests_main/the_malaysian_rainforest/types_of_forests/mangrove_forests/
·
Ben van Wijnen , Mangrove Forest Reserve Kuala
Sepetang
http://www.malaysiasite.nl/mangroveeng.htm
·
Mangrove Forests
ATTACHMENTS
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