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Mangrove forests, characterized by high photosynthetic rate and low light compensation point, exhibit high gross primary production (GPP), an important component of "blue carbon". Accurate estimation of regional GPP and quantification of its limiting factors are greatly significant for China to achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. In this paper, the GPP of mangrove ecosystems in Hainan Island from 2016 to 2020 were estimated based on the mangrove vegetation photosynthesis-light use efficiency (MVP-LUE) model using Sentinel-2 imagery and environmental data, and the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of GPP and its driving mechanism were explored. The results were as follows: (1) During the study period, the annual GPP of mangrove ecosystems on Hainan Island showed an increasing trend, with higher GPP in the eastern regions than western regions, and northern regions than southern regions. The mangroves distributed over a large area in northeastern Hainan Island dominate the temporal variation patterns at the whole island scale. However, distinct differences exist in the temporal dynamics across different regions of the mangrove ecosystem in Hainan Island. (2) In terms of the formation mechanism, the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of GPP of mangrove ecosystems on Hainan Island was driven by a combination of multiple meteorological factors. Seasonally within each year, during the transition from the dry season to rainy season, GPP was higher due to lower limitation from air temperature (Tair), and the promoting effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and sea surface temperature. In the middle of the dry season, low Tair imposed a serious limitation on GPP, but this Tair, limitation was weakened with decreasing latitude. In the rainy season, higher cloud cover resulted in PAR becoming a limiting factor for GPP. At the end of the paper, we discussed the uncertainties and limitations of MVP-LUE, and the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of mangrove ecosystem GPP not only be constrained by environmental factors, but also species composition and forest age structure can also be driving factors. The results of this study provide basic data to assess the contribution of regional mangrove forests to the global carbon cycle, and theoretical support to reveal the key environmental factors affecting mangrove ecosystem carbon dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the multifaceted realm of mangrove forests, focusing on their applications, future prospects, challenges and strategies for ensuring environmental sustainability. The introduction section provides an overview of mangrove forests and their significance in coastal ecosystems. The applications section highlights the diverse roles of mangroves, ranging from coastal protection to carbon sequestration and their contributions to local economies. Exploring the future prospects of mangrove forests, the paper examines their potential in mitigating climate change, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining ecosystem services. However, the challenges section underscores the numerous threats faced by mangroves, including habitat loss, pollution, and climate change impacts. To address these challenges and ensure environmental sustainability, the strategies section proposes integrated approaches such as conservation efforts, sustainable management, and community engagement. This paper contributes to the understanding of mangrove ecosystems and their pivotal role in promoting a resilient and sustainable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aims at understanding the importance of Brzezinski-Redfield ratio (modified Redfield ratio) as a determinant of natural phytoplankton community composition in a mangrove ecosystem. Even though this ecoregion has been reported to be mostly eutrophic, localised and anthropogenic influences often result in habitat variabil- ity especially with regard to nutrient concentrations at different parts of this ecosystem. Phytoplankton, an important sentinel in aquatic ecosystems may respond differently to such alterations in habitat thereby bringing about significant changes in the community composition. Results show that even though habitat variability does exist at our study area and varied on a spatial and temporal scale, the nutrient concentrations were intricately balanced that never became limited and complemented well with the concept of modified Redfield ratio. However, an integrative approach to study phytoplankton community involving microscopy and rbcL clone library and sequencing approach revealed that it was the functional traits of individual phytoplankton taxa that determined the phytoplankton community composition rather than the nutrient concentrations of the study area. Hence we conclude that the recent concept of functional traits and elemental stoichiometry does not remain restricted to controlled environment of experimental studies only but occur in natural mangrove habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic Goliath Grouper Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) occurs on both sides of the Atlantic, from the Carolinas (USA) to Brazil in the western Atlantic and historically from North Senegal to North Angola off of West Africa in the eastern Atlantic. While there are relatively good data on their distribution in the western Atlantic, confirmed occurrences, population status, fishing reports, and trade data are almost non-existent for West Africa. Part of the problem is that tropical West African countries largely lack the wherewithal to fund the research needed to evaluate this species, nor do they have laws, management plans, or viable enforcement measures that might lead to effective population recovery or protection for essential juvenile mangrove habitats. Given the lack of published studies on this species in West Africa, the primary objectives of this paper are (1) to describe all known historical and current anecdotal information available on this species and (2) to encourage the increased monitoring of habitats where viable populations might still occur (i.e., mangroves, oil rigs, and oil platforms). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenya is committed to the global efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation as seen through investments in various sustainable green and blue economy projects. In this review paper, we present the current status of what has been done, particularly on the blue carbon offset initiatives undertaken in the mangrove and seaweed ecosystems as well as the decarbonization activities at the port of Mombasa and which should form reference information for local, regional, bilateral/multilateral partners, scientists and other climate change stakeholders. The blue carbon offset projects involve mangrove conservation, reforestation and carbon credit sale as well as seaweed farming. The initiatives have several unique features amongst which are the community-led income generation systems that simultaneously act as an inducement for ecosystem preservation, co-management and benefits sharing which are recipes for economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. A notable project impact is the conferment of economic power to the locals, particularly the women and the youth The model used embraces a collaborative approach involving multisectoral engagements of both the government, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and local communities. This integrated top-down (government) and bottom-up (local community) method deliberately targets the strengthening of economic development while ensuring sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed parks for mangrove wetlands are considered crucial for preserving coastal ecosystems. However, several challenges confront the construction and maintenance of existing mangrove parks in the Great Bay Area of China, such as the survival rates of newly planted plants, declining plant diversity, and fluctuating quality of water and soil. While various methods exist for restoring mangrove wetland parks, there is a need for a health assessment of mangrove parks to quantify related health indicators. Previous studies mainly focused on individual species and the ecological functions of mangroves, neglecting the complexity of the overall health of communities. Based on the current situation of mangrove parks in the Great Bay Area, this paper proposes a methodology and workflow with Zhenhai Bay National Wetland Park as a study area, aimed at identifying potential health factors through field surveys on ecological communities and structures, biosafety, water and soil, and external threats and disturbances. Experiments and indicators were carried out for the evaluation, and the quantified results showed that the mangrove park had an average level of health, with the central area being more sensitive than the north and south parts. The assessment results can guide further landscape design, wetland restoration, and tourism planning, and serve as a reference for other health assessments for mangroves in similar urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasion of Spartina alterniflora is one of the main threats faced by mangrove wetlands in Quanzhou Bay, Fujian. To effectively manage S. alterniflora, mangrove plants (Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Rhizophora stylosa, and Avicennia marina) were used to replace it in 2022 to restore the wetland ecosystem. Samples of meiofauna and marine nematodes were collected four times, including in September 2022 (before the removal of S. alterniflora), October 2022 (after removal), and December 2022 and March 2023 (after planting mangrove plants). This paper investigates changes in the composition, abundance, and biomass of meiofauna in different time periods, with a specific focus on comparing the community structure and biodiversity indices of marine nematodes in S. alterniflora and mangrove habitats. The results indicate that among the five meiofauna groups identified, marine nematodes account for 92.91%, 91.91%, 92.03%, and 85.92% of the total meiofauna abundance in the respective study periods. In the S. alterniflora habitat in September, marine nematodes were identified belonging to 12 families and 20 genera, of which 6 genera were dominant (percentage ≥ 5%). They were Ptycholaimellus, Parodontophora, Terschellingia, Halichoanolaimus, Metachromadora, and Parasphaerolaimus. In the mangrove habitat in December, marine nematodes were identified belonging to 15 families and 23 genera, with 6 genera being dominant, namely Daptonema, Admirandus, Parodontophora, Ptycholaimellus, Terschellingia, and Anoplostoma. Comparing the marine nematode communities in the two habitats, the mangrove habitat exhibits higher diversity than the S. alterniflora habitat. There was a change in the dominant genera, and their dominance has decreased. The dominant genera of marine nematodes found in both habitats are common and widely distributed groups. The changes in the abundance of meiofauna and the community structure of marine nematodes following the restoration of the S. alterniflora habitat by planting mangroves provide valuable insights for ecological monitoring after restoration measures in estuarine wetland conservation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific paper examines the role of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) approach in the protection of coastal and marine resources in Tanzania. It engages coastal resource users and practitioners in focus group discussions and interviews, and complements the data obtained with documented sources. A modified version of the Benefit Analysis Framework is adopted from Wenger et al. (2011) to analyze the extent to which ICM yields a wide range of benefits that may potentially promote the protection of coastal ecosystem and enhance the commitment of communities that live adjacent to the coastal strip to manage mangroves, fisheries, coral reefs, and coastal land in a sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and anthropogenic pressure are among the main drivers of coastal environment degradation in Mauritius, a small island developing state. Globally, mitigation and adaptation strategies applied to the complex socio-ecological coastal systems offer effective solutions in curbing the adverse impacts. In environmental protection, Non-Governmental Organisations' (NGOs) role was first recognised in the 1992 UN Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development, and they are now integrated with most coastal environmental rehabilitation programmes. This paper describes two climate-based adaptation projects undertaken about a decade ago by an NGO in Mauritius. The projects were community-driven in all phases of implementation. The first project focussed on the Ecosystem-based-adaptation (EbA) approach of restoring a mangrove ecosystem and improving community life at Le Morne Village. The second project aimed at the rehabilitation of a historical site and the consolidation of a degraded coastline at Poudre d'Or Village. Components of 'hard' and 'soft' adaptive measures were applied as pathways to guide project implementation. The projects required extensive field visits, focus group interviews, and participatory inputs from all stakeholders. A 10-year assessment of the processes applied in the conceptualisation, implementation, and in evaluating the outcomes was gleaned from regular visits to local inhabitants, stakeholders, and NGO members since the completion of the projects. In 2022, an informal interview at Le Morne and a survey at Poudre d'Or showed that both projects resulted in positive outcomes. Good governance capacity and rigour in the management of the project team were highlighted as crucial attributes to the success of the projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, satellite imagery is classified into four categories using the fuzzy c-means algorithm of the Indian Sundarbans due to its forest density changes. The categories are dense forest, sparse forest, water bodies, and wetlands. The study reveals that net forest areas declined by 3.75% from 932 km2 in 1975 to 847 km2 in 2018 and the rate of deforestation was 1.96 km2 year−1. The correlation statistic shows that the deforested areas were converted to wetland and water bodies. The results of the forest canopy density (FCD) model show that areas, with canopy density of 60–100% gradually declined from 42% (939 km2) in 1975 to 36% (814 km2) in 2018. Moreover, we also observed that maximum canopy density was >80% in 1990 and 60–80% in 1975. The results of the forest fragmentation model show that forest patch and edge areas progressively increased by 253% and 28%, respectively, while perforated forest areas slowly decreased with 11%. We find that most forest fragmentation happened in patch, edge, perforated, and core forest with an area >4 km2. Therefore, this study may be helpful in monitoring land cover changes of the Indian Sundarbans for sustainable mangrove forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is one of the rapid development sectors on small islands that are abundant with natural resources. However, tourism development is a potential threat and may deplete environmental resources. This paper aims to describe the recent tourism development in Bintan Regency, Indonesia, one of the small islands abundant with mangrove resources. Data were collected on Bintan Island through visitation and observation. The mangrove ecosystem document and the potential impact of tourism development on the mangrove ecosystem were empirically reviewed. Studies confirm that tourism is recently growing in Bintan and significantly contributes to and supports local development. The mangrove ecosystem has abundant resources that are crucial for sustainable tourism development programmes on Bintan Island. Some strategic approaches exist to enhance the link between mangrove conservation and tourism on Bintan Island, including mangrove biodiversity conservation, ecolodge development, nature-based tourism programme development, and community participation in mangrove-based tourism. With a proper management approach, mangroves are a potential resource to attract tourists and promote sustainable tourism development on small islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situating in the lap of the Bay of Bengal, the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, plays a significant role in the livelihood of more than three million people and provides shelter to an undetermined number of species. Unfortunately, this United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared world heritage site faces various threats to wildlife and biodiversity due to human interventions in the forest and animal habitats. The present study finds that despite having 150 forest policies to conserve the forest, the forest size is gradually shrinking across the country, particularly in the Sundarbans. However, National Forestry Policy 1979 (amended 2016) aims to protect forests and forest resources, and Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 (hereafter the Wildlife Act 2012) protects against wildlife crimes. Although National Forestry Policy 2016 endeavours to engage the local communities in the conservation process, no significant improvement was seen in the life of local communities and forest management. This paper assesses the role of international institutions that often support and cooperate with other countries for sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation, like the Sundarbans of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antillean manatee ( I Trichechus manatus manatus i ; hereafter "manatee") ranges from Mexico and the Bahamas south to Brazil and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN (Self-Sullivan & Mignucci-Giannoni, [56]). The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) along the Caribbean coast of Colombia: underused incidental records help identify present and past coastal-lowland hotspots Detailed studies by others into habitat selection by manatees (e.g., Caicedo-Herrera et al., [9]; Mahecha, [38]), would suggest that the current distribution of manatees neither accurately reflects the historical distributional nor the innate distributional preference of manatees. Análisis del estado de la población de manatí Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Sirenia) en la Vía Parque isla de Salamanca, (Magdalena-Colombia) [Analysis of the status of the manatee population Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Sirenia) in the Vía Parque Isla de Salamanca, (Magdalena-Colombia)] [Bachelor thesis]. [Extracted from the article]

The sub-district of East Seram (SBT) is the oldest district in the East Seram Regency, Maluku Province, Indonesia. Ninety percent of this area is covered by the sea with 3 unique tropical coastal ecosystems, namely mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs. This high productivity ecosystem provides various goods and environmental services in fisheries, tourism, and other industries. One of them is coastal resources such as Julung-julung fish (Half-beak, Hemirhamphus spp) that use this ecosystem for their primary habitat. Unfortunately, little is known about the interaction between Julung-julung and their habitat. This paper aims to assess the changes of the coastal ecosystem of the SBT and their impact on Julung-julung resources. Two satellite images of Landsat-7 ETM+ (2001) and Sentinel-2A (2018) were analyzed to monitor the condition changes of mangrove and seagrass. Six habitat classes of sea, land vegetation, mangrove, dense, medium, and sparse seagrass were classified using isocluster analysis, validated using ground truth data collected during intensive field survey, and then the areas of each habitat class were calculated. From the period of 2001 to 2018, the areas of mangrove and seagrass have decreased from 1401.5 to 1118.8 ha, and from 3183.8 to 2509.4 ha, respectively. The decrease of mangroves was due to mangrove cutting for firewood that use to smoke Julung-julung, one of the famous fish products from the SBT, while mining dead coral for building materials in seagrass beds decreased their areas. Interview with experienced SBT's fishers in catching Julung-julung showed that the population of this fish has decreased by about 30-50% within 20 years, which was most likely due to the impact of their habitat degradation. In contrast, the decrease of Julung-julung stocks in other province was mostly due to overfishing. Thus, maintaining, conserving, and revitalizing the mangrove and seagrass ecosystems in the SBT as the important habitat for the early life history of Julungjulung is inevitable, as well as it is necessary to immediately conduct in-depth study on biological and population dynamics of this fish, whose data is still lacking, so that the Julungjulung stocks can manage sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas are overwhelmingly rich in resources and support the livelihoods of the local communities. Coastal mangrove ecosystem provides a wide range of goods and services for human needs and wellbeing. To value conservation benefits of 252.29 ha extent of Kundapura mangrove ecosystem's goods and services, an economic valuation study was conducted using Systems of Environmental Economics Accounting (SEEA) framework. In total, seven ecosystem benefits were identified under provisioning, regulating and cultural services categories of SEEA. Identified baskets of benefits are fisheries, timber, fuelwood, protection against storms and floods, water quality maintenance, carbon sequestration, recreation and tourism. Out of seven benefits, the present study has found that the disturbance regulation benefit's contribution, which is about 92.65% of overall benefits with its economic value, US$1.786 million per year (17.86 lakh). Disturbance regulation benefit has significant role in reducing the impact of vulnerability from coastal hazards and sheltering 4354 individuals of population occupying 1088 houses. Despite that fact, Kundapura mangrove's assets are being degraded by various negative externalities. Particularly reclamation for aquaculture purpose and consequent discharging of the effluents, and dumping of sludge and municipal solid wastes (MSWs). These externalities would exacerbate the environmental problems and impacts on the flow of benefits. Hence, circular economic approach as pioneering to renovate the current linear system into circular one through 3R's strategy (reduce, reuse, and recycle) in the process of production, distribution, and consumption of ecosystem goods and services. This research paper explains about the application of circular economic approach in conservation management by assessing economic valuation of Kundapura mangrove's specific services. This approach is expected to finally result in aiding decision‐making process to limit the quantity of polluting residuals and control the degradation activities thereby sustain the mangroves in good health. Further the regeneration and expansion of mangrove extent would improve the mangrove‐dependent fishery, promote sustainable tourism, and maximize the coastal protection and economic benefits in this region. This will go a long way in sustaining the health of the otherwise fragile mangrove ecosystem of Kundapura coastal stretch, which is under the category of Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CCVAs), identified under CRZ of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves, as a crucial coastal ecosystem, possess significant carbon sink functions and play a key role in mitigating global climate change. This paper, based on the Zhanjiang Mangrove Afforestation Project in Guangdong, explores the development mechanisms and economic and ecological benefits of mangrove carbon sink projects through the lens of collective action theory and system dynamics modeling. The study finds that the primary reason for the unsustainable progression of mangrove carbon sink projects is the lack of intrinsic motivation among local villagers to engage in collective action. By constructing a system dynamics model, this paper quantifies the long-term impacts of mangrove carbon sink projects on local socio-economic welfare and proposes policy optimization recommendations. These recommendations include expanding income sources for local villagers, establishing carbon trading and ecological compensation mechanisms, and involving international non-governmental organizations. The findings of this study not only provide guidance for mangrove carbon sink projects in China but also offer valuable insights for the promotion of similar projects globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ilmu Kelautan: Indonesian Journal of Marine Sciences is the property of Diponegoro University, Marine Science Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nipa palms, a plant species in mangrove forest, are valuable and beneficial for the local community's economy as well as the conservation in the southern region of Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the use of nipa palms in Khanap Nak and focused on the type of products made from nipa palms and the yield of this plant through focus group discussion and interview with the farmers maintaining nipa palm forest. The results suggested that nipa palms in Khanap Nak can yield for 5–100 years. Apart from the benefits to the community in terms of sustainability, as it prevents erosion, it provides sources for the production of food (molasses, granulated sugar, syrup, and vinegar from sap) and raw materials (roofing material and cigarette paper from leaves and stem), which can generate income to community members. It was found that most of the communities earn 90–130 USD/day from palm sugar production. The quantity of nipa palm products varies in each season, resulting in different prices. In this regard, they can produce high quantity of products made from sap from January to March. However, the production of different types of sugar requires local knowledge and wisdom to ensure good quality. Nipa palm production is the sustainable way to utilize mangrove forest resources, leading to effective conservation and good life quality. Regarding problems and difficulties in farming, it was found that natural disaster is a major threat, such as drought, excessive amount of salt or freshwater in certain periods, and insect pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests are considered to be the most productive ecosystem yet vanishing rapidly over the world. They are mostly found in the intertidal zone and sheltered by the seacoast. Mangroves have potential socio-economic benefits such as protecting the shoreline from storm and soil erosion, flood and flow control, acting as a carbon sink, provides a fertile breeding ground for marine species and fauna. It also acts as a source of income by providing various forest products. Restoration and conservation of mangrove forests remain a big challenge due to the large and inaccessible areas covered by mangroves forests which makes field assessment difficult and time-consuming. Remote sensing along with various digital image classification approaches seem to be promising in providing better and accurate results in mapping and monitoring the mangroves ecosystem. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the work undertaken, and addresses various remote sensing techniques applied for mapping and monitoring of the mangrove ecosystem, and summarize their potential and limitation. For that various digital image classification techniques are analyzed and compared based on the type of image used with its spectral resolution, spatial resolution, and other related image features along with the accuracy of the classification to derive specific class information related to mangroves. The digital image classification techniques used for mangrove mapping and monitoring in various studies can be classified into pixel-based, object-based, and knowledge-based classifiers. The various satellite image data analyzed are ranged from light detection and ranging (LiDAR), hyperspectral and multispectral optical imagery, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and aerial imagery. Supervised state of the art machine learning/deep machine learning algorithms which use both pixel-based and object-based approaches and can be combined with the knowledge-based approach are widely used for classification purpose, due to the recent development and evolution in these techniques. There is a huge future scope to study the performance of these classification techniques in combination with various high spatial and spectral resolution optical imageries, SAR and LiDAR, and also with multi-sensor, multiresolution, and temporal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of degraded mangrove habitats is a global priority. In countries such as India, the significance of coastal mangrove forests is deeply embedded after the 2004 tsunami and numerous cyclones that caused immense damage to coastal communities. Mangrove restoration drives have been carried out in several regions across the Indian coast. However, the establishment of mangrove nurseries using plastic bags to plant seedlings results in a large amount of plastic waste at the end of each plantation drive. People have tried to combat this issue of plastic pollution by adopting alternative methods but encountered several drawbacks and hitches. In this study, hand‐woven Palmyra (Borassus flabellifer, Arecaceae) bags were experimented with as a replacement for plastic bags to grow seedlings. The bags were able to withstand water inundation conditions similar to those of mangrove tidal flats for a maximum of 6 months, beyond which they disintegrated. The mangrove seedlings showed good growth similar to that in plastic bags, but the roots were well spread in Palmyra bags compared to plastic bags. In addition, during plantation, the seedling along with the bag could be planted as the bags were biodegradable, which is an advantage over plastic bags that need to be removed. Moreover, since local fishermen community members prepared these bags, it provided them with an alternative source of livelihood. Hence, Palmyra bags are an eco‐friendly alternative to plastic bags in reforestation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper is centred on the fast‐track changes occurring among the Balanta of Guinea‐Bissau—at present, the only ethnic group in West Africa still able to produce a mangrove swamp rice surplus with a manual plough—in their traditionally intensive farming system and their social organization, and on the consequences that these changes have had for gender relations, especially with regard to married women's spatial mobility, sexual and economic independence, and access to land, labour, and capital. In doing so, the paper contributes to old debates about the relationship between means of production and gendered power dynamics in contexts where African societies based on domestic modes of production progressively embrace the market economy. The Balanta case offers a new layer of complexity to this debate due to their long‐term resistance to westernization and market integration, their particular conjugal relations, and the paradoxical way in which women have been losing their traditional rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove cover is increasing in estuaries and harbours in many areas on North Island, New Zealand. The expansion of mangroves has been attributed to anthropogenic land-use change, including urbanisation and conversion of land to agriculture. Rapid expansion of mangroves in the coastal landscape has created discord in local communities over their importance in terms of the services they deliver to both wildlife and people. Some community groups have been advocates for the large-scale removal of mangrove habitat, whilst other local residents oppose this removal. This review paper investigated and discussed pertinent biodiversity and ecosystem services studies based in New Zealand mangroves from 1950 to 2017. Results showed that the majority of biodiversity studies have targeted particular species or groups of organisms, with a focus on benthic invertebrate communities. Deficits remain in our knowledge of this expanding forest and shrub ecosystem, notably the terrestrial component of biodiversity, species community-shifts with landscape fragmentation, and associated cultural values. It is recommended that broader species assessments and a longer-term approach be applied to biodiversity monitoring in mangroves, coupled with ātauranga āori (āori knowledge) and western science for holistic management of this coastal ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal stretches abode different features and activities. Among them, mangrove ecosystem is prominent. Mangrove colonies flourishing along the coast stand as the barrier against natural calamities and support the coastal communities by providing livelihood opportunities. Economic benefits from aquaculture trigger its rapid development near the coast in the recent decades. This paper evaluates the present status of mangroves and aquafarms in the coast and harbingers the effects of aquafarm growth in close vicinity of mangroves. The prediction study indicates the increasing pattern of afforested mangroves and the aquafarms in the next decades and elucidates the negative impacts of aquaculture expansion over the flourishing mangroves. Development should be in a sustained way so that the resources will not be affected. Coastal Regulation Zone should be imposed strictly in the sensitive areas like mangroves in order to achieve balance between the conservation of resources and strategic development. Remote sensing and GIS technique were used to assess temporal changes of the features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research is the property of Indonesian Journal of Forestry Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Remote Sensing is the property of Editorial Office of Journal of Remote Sensing & Science Publishing Co. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mudskippers are amphibious species inhabiting semi-terrestrial ecosystems like mudflats, mangroves, marshy swamps, intertidal regions, and estuaries. Around 34 diversified species are found across the globe. Mudskipper belongs to the Oxudercidae family and the subfamily is Oxudercinae. The occurrence of species is vastly found across the Indo-West Pacific region, the tropical western coast of Africa and in the Indian Ocean. Mudskippers are known for being the biological indicator and also an indicator of estuarine safety monitoring. They are used by people for prey-catching baits. This review paper explains the ecological indicators, taxonomy, species diversity, habitat, behavioural pattern, respiration & kinematics, feeding ecology, reproduction, nutrition content & its medicinal value, and threats to mudskippers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of remote sensing (RS) techniques to monitor ecosystem services has increased in recent years. Nevertheless, the potential application of RS to monitor some of ecosystem services is still challenging. The paper reviews the applications of RS to monitor ecosystem services of forests, mangroves and urban areas. Satellite data provide substantial information about dynamics of environmental changes over time from local to global scale. These information are useful data sources for the people who are involved in the on-going evaluation and decision-making process to manage ecosystem. Many recent research papers on the topic were reviewed to find new applications and limitations of RS for monitoring ecosystem services. Advanced RS techniques have high potential to monitor ecosystem services with the advancement of sensors ranging from aerial photography to high and medium resolution optical RS and from hyperspectral RS to microwave RS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves are critical in the ecological, economic and social development of coastal rural and urban communities. However, they are under threat by climate change and anthropogenic activities. The Sunda Banda Seascape (SBS), Indonesia, is among the world’s richest regions of mangrove biomass and biodiversity. To inform current and future management strategies, it is critical to provide estimates of how mangroves will respond to climate change in this region. Therefore, this paper utilized spatial analysis with model-based climatic indicators (temperature and precipitation) and mangrove distribution maps to estimate a benchmark for the mangrove biomass of the SBS in six scenarios, namely the Last Inter-glacial Period, the current scenario (1950–2000) and all four projected Representative Concentration Pathways in 2070 due to climate change. Despite mangroves gaining more biomass with climate change (the increase in CO2concentration), this paper highlighted the great proportion of below-ground biomass in mangrove forests. It also showed that the changes in spatial distribution of mangrove biomass became more variable in the context of climate change. As mangroves have been proposed as an essential component of climate change strategies, this study can serve as a baseline for future studies and resource management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni / Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao is the property of Sun-Yat-Sen University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Natural capital can be used to reduce disaster losses; for example, wetlands store floodwaters and mangroves buffer storm surge. This paper reviews the experience of several US communities that chose to use natural systems to mitigate a variety of risks. The paper discusses the communities' motivations in choosing to use natural capital as opposed to other risk-reduction measures, the policy approaches for doing so, the political and institutional challenges involved, and strategies for overcoming those challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), the mangrove-shrimp-based livelihood model has brought multiple benefits for coastal environment, e.g. coastal protection, biodiversity, sustainable incomes. However, it has been questioned on the grounds on the model's sustainability and resilience to climate change-induced salinity intrusion along with economic and environmental constraints. This paper aims to explore perspectives of mangrove-shrimp farmers in the coastal province of Ben Tre of the VMD from their willingness to sustain the livelihood. We utilized a Motivation and Ability framework in combination with a sustainable livelihood framework to measure the perceived values and resilience of mangrove-shrimp farming systems, based on a broad interview with farmers, scientists, and experts. Farmer interviews presented a high ability of farmers in maintaining the mangrove-shrimp model, but low motivation for development. Water pollution and shrimp disease are the highest risks that would be exacerbated by extreme salinity intrusion. Resilience and sustainability of the mangrove-shrimp livelihoods are relatively low under the impact of extreme salinity intrusion. Also, interviews with scientists and experts revealed a poor perception of farmers in implementing laws in agricultural land and water management, their lack of cooperation with local authorities, and their roles to be less likely involved in project implementation processes which are not supportive for sustaining the mangrove-shrimp models. In the end, an evidence-based framework was proposed to improve the situation. This study sought to contribute meaningful and concrete recommendations to sustain this livelihood model not only for Vietnamese but also for those in coastal areas over the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global context, countries must reduce carbon dioxide emissions to "net zero" by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. China's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve the carbon neutrality target by 2060. To monitor the achievements of the NDCs, establishing an annual-based accounting mechanism is necessary to record the carbon stocks in China, especially for Blue Carbon. The paper aims to present China's first national-scale systematic Blue Carbon accounting for mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, covering the accounting subjects of physical and monetary assets, as well as relevant indicators for investors. It focuses on the design of the accounting method and system, the selection of data categories applied to this system, and the application of China's Blue Carbon accounting based on this accounting system. Taking Blue Carbon accounting as a starting point, this paper analyses the restoration prospects of these ecosystems and their application potential for NDCs in China compared with the terrestrial ecosystems. The results indicate that mangroves are the most cost-effective type of ecosystem, even compared to terrestrial forests. Thus, the paper provides policymakers with a new perspective on the decision-making of carbon sequestration relevant decisions, aiming to promote the monitoring, restoration, and expansion of China's coastal blue carbon ecosystem through the establishment of a sound Blue Carbon accounting system, and to help achieve the carbon neutrality goal in China's NDCs through regular and systematic monitoring of its national Blue Carbon inventories. • China's coastal blue carbon ecosystems are carbon sources rather than carbon sinks. • Mangroves are the most cost-effective coastal blue carbon ecosystem compared to salt marshes and seagrass beds. • The Blue Carbon of mangroves is more cost-effective than the Green Carbon of terrestrial forests when meeting China's Nationally Determined Contributions target of increasing forest stocks. • Establishing guidelines for Blue Carbon data requirements will lay a scientific foundation for formulating strategies and policies to cope with global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangrove forests, distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, are in a constant flux. They provide important ecosystem goods and services to nature and society. In recent years, the carbon sequestration potential and protective role of mangrove forests from natural disasters is being highlighted as an effective option for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The forests are under threat from both natural and anthropogenic forces. However, accurate, reliable, and timely information of the distribution and dynamics of mangrove forests of the world is not readily available. Recent developments in the availability and accessibility of remotely sensed data, advancement in image pre-processing and classification algorithms, significant improvement in computing, availability of expertise in handling remotely sensed data, and an increasing awareness of the applicability of remote sensing products has greatly improved our scientific understanding of changing mangrove forest cover attributes. As reported in this special issue, the use of both optical and radar satellite data at various spatial resolutions (i.e., 1 m to 30 m) to derive meaningful forest cover attributes (e.g., species discrimination, above ground biomass) is on the rise. This multi-sensor trend is likely to continue into the future providing a more complete inventory of global mangrove forest distributions and attribute inventories at enhanced temporal frequency. The papers presented in this "Special Issue" provide important remote sensing monitoring advancements needed to meet future scientific objectives for global mangrove forest monitoring from local to global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sri Lanka's extensive 1740-km shoreline boasts a wealth of carbon-sequestering marine habitats, encompassing coastal forests, underwater meadows, and tidal wetlands. This review paper discussed the current status, recent changes, and future potential of the trio of carbon-rich coastal habitats in Sri Lanka. As with other countries in South Asia, including India and Bangladesh, mangrove research in Sri Lanka has advanced well, and regional-scale quantitative analyses of mangrove distribution, biomass, and carbon stocks have been conducted in many coastal areas of Sri Lanka. However, studies on seagrass meadows and saltmarshes are limited to a few sites and the objectives of these studies were mostly restricted to species diversity and distribution. This study analysis focuses on Sri Lankan studies related to mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass, and blue carbon ecosystems. Economic analysis of blue carbon ecosystems, and country-level quantification of carbon stocks in mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and saltmarshes are yet to be conducted in the country. Moreover, most of the blue carbon ecosystems in Sri Lanka are in degraded conditions or under threat. Therefore, it is essential to enhance knowledge about carbon-sequestering coastal habitats within the nation and develop effective preservation and rehabilitation strategies, to guarantee responsible stewardship of Sri Lanka's shorelines. While there is some very good data available insufficient attention has been given to studying seagrasses and saltmarshes in Sri Lanka, despite their ecological value. • Current review of clue carbon research in Sri Lanka. • Sri Lanka has highly diverse coastal ecosystems in the world. • Scientometrics-based analysis of blue carbon ecosystems in Sri Lanka. • Coastal vegetation plays an important role in reducing CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, climate change and other environmental threats have driven growing interest in the value of ecosystem services, particularly for communities reliant on mangrove forests. This study utilized a bibliometric analysis of 1222 academic papers on 'mangrove' and 'ecosystem services' published between 1998 and 2023. Data from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases were analyzed using VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package to gain comprehensive insights. Based on citation frequency, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom were the top countries contributing to research in this field. Analysis of keywords revealed a focus on 'mangrove,' 'ecosystem services,' 'ecosystem,' 'conservation,' and 'forests.' In contrast, the author keywords highlighted emerging themes like 'blue carbon,' 'climate change,' and 'wetland.' 'Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science' and 'Ocean and Coastal Management' were leading journals in this domain, reflecting the strong presence of multidisciplinary research. Notably, only one of the top ten journals, 'Ecosystem Services,' belongs to the social sciences. Trend analysis suggested evolving research interests, with recent studies focusing on 'mangrove conservation,' 'restoration,' and 'community,' compared to earlier emphases on 'mangrove' and 'ecosystem services' around 2019. Thematic mapping further underscored this dynamism, with ecosystem services emerging as a rapidly expanding multidisciplinary field. Notably, the thematic evaluation revealed a shift in focus, with ecosystem services and mangroves transitioning from fundamental to motor themes. This bibliometric analysis offered valuable insights into current research trends, fostered understanding within a multidisciplinary context, and paved the way for future studies in this critical field. The study underscored the importance of focusing future research on mangrove ecosystem services, particularly in gaining support from policymakers for evidence-based policies. It emphasized the need for transdisciplinary studies to assess the impacts of ecosystem services and conservation policies. It also highlighted a crucial gap in the literature regarding the sustainability of mangrove ecosystem services, suggesting the integration of economic, environmental, and engineering approaches for more effective policy initiatives. • The study exclusively mapped the literature on mangrove ecosystem services from 1998 to 2023. • Authors and institutions from developed countries have been dominating the field. • Research on evidence-based policymaking has been overlooked, especially from transdisciplinary perspectives. • One area that requires significant attention is the sustainability of mangrove ecosystem services. • There is a need to integrate environmental and engineering approaches with economic perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial in the Journal of Plant Ecology discusses the urgent need for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration of vulnerable ecosystems in the Anthropocene era. It highlights the challenges faced in restoring ecosystems due to human activities and climate change, emphasizing the importance of effective restoration techniques and sustainable management. The special issue covers various studies on ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, providing insights into carbon storage dynamics, plant functional diversity, N2O emissions, invasive species traits, wetland conservation laws, and more. The goal is to advance understanding and collaboration among ecologists, conservation biologists, and eco-engineering scientists to develop advanced restoration theories and techniques. [Extracted from the article]

Mangroves are one of the world's most productive and ecologically important ecosystems, and they are threatened by the widespread invasion of Spartina alterniflora Loisel in China. As few studies have examined the spatial pattern differences of S. alterniflora invasion and the nearby mangroves in different latitudes, we chose the Zhangjiang Estuary and the Dandou Sea, two representative mangrove–salt marsh ecotones in the north and south of the Tropic of Cancer, as the study areas for comparison. The object-based image analysis and visual interpretation methods were combined to construct fine-scale mangrove and S. alterniflora maps using high-resolution satellite imagery from 2005 to 2019. We applied spatial analysis, centroid migration, and landscape indexes to analyze the spatio–temporal distribution changes of mangroves and S. alterniflora in these two ecotones over time. We used the landscape expansion index to investigate the S. alterniflora invasion process and expansion patterns. The annual change rates of mangrove and S. alterniflora areas in the Zhangjiang Estuary showed a continuous growth trend. However, the mangrove areas in the Dandou Sea showed a fluctuating trend of increasing, decreasing, and then increasing again, while S. alterniflora areas kept rising from 2005 to 2019. Spartina alterniflora showed larger annual change rates compared with mangroves, indicating rapid S. alterniflora invasion in the intertidal zones. The opposite centroid migration directions of mangroves and S. alterniflora and the decreasing distances between the mangrove and S. alterniflora centroids indirectly revealed the fierce competition between mangroves and S. alterniflora for habitat resources. Both regions saw a decrease in mangrove patch integrality and connectivity. The integrality of mangrove patches in the Zhangjiang Estuary was always higher than those in the Dandou Sea. We observed the growth stage (2011–2014) and outbreak stage (2014–2019) of S. alterniflora expansion in the Zhangjiang Estuary and the outbreak stage (2005–2009) and plateau stage (2009–2019) of S. alterniflora expansion in the Dandou Sea. The expansion pattern of S. alterniflora varies in time and place. Since the expansion of S. alterniflora in the outbreak stage is rapid, with a large annual change rate, early warning of S. alterniflora invasion is quite important for the efficient and economical removal of the invasive plant. Continuous and accurate monitoring of S. alterniflora is highly necessary and beneficial for the scientific management and sustainable development of coastal wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves play a crucial ecological and economic role but face significant threats, particularly on Hainan Island, which has the highest mangrove species diversity in China. Remote sensing and AI techniques offer potential solutions for monitoring these ecosystems, but challenges persist due to difficult access for field sampling. To address these issues, we propose a novel model combining a Mangrove Rough Extraction Decision Tree (MREDT) and a Dynamic Attention Convolutional Network (DACN-M). Initially, we used drones and field surveys to conduct multiple observations in Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve, identifying the boundaries of the mangroves. Based on these features, we constructed the MREDT model to mitigate model failure caused by light instability, simplifying transfer to other study areas without requiring annotated samples or extensive field surveys. Next, we developed the DACN-M model, which refines the rough extraction features from MREDT and incorporates contextual information for more accurate detection. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method effectively differentiates mangroves from other vegetation, achieving F1 Scores above 75% and IoU values greater than 60% across six study areas. In conclusion, our proposed method not only accurately identifies and monitors mangrove distribution but also offers the significant advantage of being transferable to other study areas without the need for annotated samples or field surveys. This provides a robust and scalable solution for protecting and preserving critical mangrove ecosystems and supports effective conservation efforts in various regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hurricane incidents have become increasingly frequent along the coastal United States and have had a negative impact on the mangrove forests and their ecosystem services across the southeastern region. Mangroves play a key role in providing coastal protection during hurricanes by attenuating storm surges and reducing erosion. However, their resilience is being increasingly compromised due to climate change through sea level rises and the greater intensity of storms. This article examines the role of remote sensing tools in studying the impacts of hurricanes on mangrove forests in the coastal United States. Our results show that various remote sensing tools including satellite imagery, Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used to detect mangrove damage, monitor their recovery and analyze their 3D structural changes. Landsat 8 OLI (14%) has been particularly useful in long-term assessments, followed by Landsat 5 TM (9%) and NASA G-LiHT LiDAR (8%). Random forest (24%) and linear regression (24%) models were the most common modeling techniques, with the former being the most frequently used method for classifying satellite images. Some studies have shown significant mangrove canopy loss after major hurricanes, and damage was seen to vary spatially based on factors such as proximity to oceans, elevation and canopy structure, with taller mangroves typically experiencing greater damage. Recovery rates after hurricane-induced damage also vary, as some areas were seen to show rapid regrowth within months while others remained impacted after many years. The current challenges include capturing fine-scale changes owing to the dearth of remote sensing data with high temporal and spatial resolution. This review provides insights into the current remote sensing applications used in hurricane-prone mangrove habitats and is intended to guide future research directions, inform coastal management strategies and support conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves, despite thriving at the fringes of habitat tolerance in coastal regions, stand out as one of the world's most highly productive ecosystems. This study delves into the remarkable symbiotic relationship between mangroves and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Specifically, it assesses seasonal diversity in six true mangrove species and four associated species, situated in Henry's Island, Bakkhali, India. Spore density and root colonization were examined across different seasons. The highest spore density was observed in Heritiera fomes (a timber-producing mangrove) during the post-monsoon season, followed by pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. Root colonization was notably prominent in Ceriops tagal (Indian mangrove), Bruguira gymnorrhiza (Oriental mangrove), and Sonneratia alba (flowering evergreen mangrove) during both pre- and postmonsoon seasons. This study unveiled a rich fungal diversity, with a total of 60 AMF species belonging to 13 genera. Among these, the genus Glomus emerged as the dominant group, with species such as G. deserticola along with another genus Rhizophagus intraradics displaying widespread distribution. Notably, Glomus consistently ranked as the most prevalent genus throughout the year, indicating its remarkable adaptability and strong dispersal capacity in both true and associate mangrove plant species. This research sheds light on the seasonal dynamics of AMF associations in mangrove ecosystems, emphasizing the significance of Glomus as a key player in this symbiotic relationship. These findings contribute to our understanding of the ecological intricacies within mangrove habitats and highlight the adaptability of certain AMF genera to varying environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) is an omega-3 fatty acid with beneficial effects for human health. In view of its increasing demand, DHA traditionally produced by marine fisheries will be insufficient, and an alternative sustainable source is urgently required. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of four novel microalgae strains, PLU-A, B, C and D, with a high DHA content of up to 45% from decayed mangrove samples collected from a coastal area in Singapore. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these isolates were clustered with Schizochytrium sp. TK6 (OK244290.1) and were identified as Schizochytrium sp. strains. A medium optimization with Schizochytrium sp. PLU-D found a glucose-to-yeast extract ratio of 4:1 to be optimal for high biomass and lipid accumulation of up to 70% in shake flasks. In fed-batch fermentation scale-up with the Schizochytrium sp. PLU-D strain, this translates to 175 g/L dry biomass, 94 g/L lipid and 36.2 g/L DHA. Accordingly, the DHA titer obtained is superior to most of the scale-up production reported thus far, while the DHA content is comparable to two other commercially available DHA algae oils. These results suggest that Schizochytrium sp. PLU-D has high potential to be applied for the sustainable production of DHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper deals with the most pressing problems of increasing anthropogenically induced reactive nitrogen (Nr) and investigates how they severely altered the global nitrogen cycle and its enhanced effect on climate change. Global scale assessment reveals that Nr loading increases dramatically from pre-industrial (111 Tg/year) to the contemporary era (223 Tg/year) and shows shifting of Nr loading from primary fixation based (89%) in the pre-industrial state to heterogenous mix in modern times. Globally, natural ecosystems like wetlands, estuaries and mangrove are acting as net sink of reactive nitrogen and can mitigate the negative consequences of excess Nr loading on climate change. Pristine mangrove act as a sink of Nr while impacted/eutrophied mangrove may act as a source of it. Nr removal efficiency varies with latitude, wetland class, and Nr loading. Fresh water and natural wetlands have more efficiency in removing Nr than tidal and constructed wetlands as salinity negatively affects anammox reaction. Comparing the warming effects of Nr (N2O emission, tropospheric ozone formation and phytotoxic effects) with the cooling effects (carbon sequestration, altered methane lifetime and aerosol formation) reveals the net cooling of –16 (–47 to +15) mWm-2 and –240 (–500 to +200) mWm-2 for European and global Nr release respectively. Radiative forcing on global scale reveals that positive and negative forcing to some extent balance each other with net cooling effect but growing anthropogenic Nr is rapidly decreasing the part that is cooling, and increasing the part that is warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of mangrove ecosystem services (ES) is essential to understand and manage the contribution of these ecosystems to the well-being of local communities. They are the primary beneficiaries but their experience, knowledge, and information are frequently ignored in ES assessment and mapping. In this study, a participatory resource mapping (PRM) approach was applied using local knowledge and experience to analyze geo-referenced information on mangrove ecosystem services. Local communities were involved from the beginning in method selection, application, evaluation, and verification. This "inclusive participatory ES mapping" was conducted in two villages (Bedono and Timbulsloko, Central Java, Indonesia) from 2014 to 2015. Participants representing different community elements were involved in the mapping process. They first created a historical map of the situation in their villages roughly between 1980 and 1999 (before rehabilitation) and then described the subsequent environmental changes. The mapping exercise also documented different mangrove resources that are utilized by communities and identified key areas, such as harvesting zones, biodiversity hotspots, erosion zones, different fishing grounds, and newly rehabilitated areas. The maps reveal that integrating PRM and indigenous geo-referenced information can elicit past and contemporary information on (changes in) ecosystem service availability and use. The results show that by involving local communities from the beginning, the participatory ES mapping can facilitate social learning, provide the foundation for the creation of social capital, and equip the community with sufficient spatial information to improve local mangrove management. The participatory ES mapping approach presented in this paper can be used as a model to support local and regional decision-making processes and to enhance community-based mangrove management in other coastal regions in Indonesia and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oltenia, Studii si Comunicari Seria Stiintele Naturii is the property of Museum of Oltenia Craiova and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose – The cumulative effects of climate change exacerbate interruption of social-ecological system. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the consumption smoothing along with other socioeconomic parameters of households affects the common pool resource base of a forest in an economic depression resulted from climate change triggered disasters. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a field level study of Koyra sub-district in the Southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. Several parameters namely climatic trends and events, damage pattern suffered by households, change in land ownership and occupation pattern and consumption dependency pattern were considered. Methods used for data collection were household questionnaire survey and focus group discussions in the study area. Findings – Both the intensity and frequency of climate change led catastrophes are found higher in the study area resulting damage of assets and capital goods of households. The average annual disaster damage borne by per household is found US$177. Over the last two decades 8.21 per cent households become landless. During same time span more than 25 per cent households switched from cropping to other non-agricultural occupations and more than 26 per cent households depend on forest resource for their consumption smoothing. Originality/value – The paper provides insights how climate change led disasters induce the households to depend on the resource from the mangrove forest Sundarbans for their livelihood earning as well as consumption smoothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale mud crab aquaculture was introduced in East Africa in late 1990s as a mangrove friendly aquaculture to improve the livelihood of coastal communities through organised community groups (OCGs). The OCGs approach was a strategy aimed at ensuring benefits to the village and regulating access to the open access resource (land in mangrove forests). A social and economic assessment was conducted at Majaoni, Makongeni, Ihaleni and Dabaso along the Kenyan coast. The paper looks at the social and economic characteristics of the groups, their management systems, contribution of mud crab aquaculture to the livelihoods of local communities and policy issues related to the interventions. There is wider involvement of the mijikenda community in mud crab farming; however, the level of women participation is low. A strong market link exists between the groups and the different market outlets, where hotels and exporters offer the highest prices. Regional price variations existed and may need networking between the groups. The paper concludes that national policies may need to be redirected to support small-scale aquaculture development and ensuring capacity building for women, operation and management of groups, provision of extension services, data management and provision of user rights for communities working in the mangrove environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]