Why We Can’t Let Mangroves Disappear

Created By RISC | 3 years ago

Last modified date : 2 years ago

Mangroves are crucial habits for people, animals, and plants yet they’re shrinking and now total only 2.86 million rai.

Mangroves grow in muddy areas, brackish water, or wetlands along river estuaries, lakes, and seacoasts. They be found in the eastern, central, and southern regions both on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Thai provinces with the most ​​mangroves include Phang Nga, Satun, Krabi, and Trang. They also grow at Bang Khun Thian, Bang Krachao, and Thung Prong Thong.

Mangrove forests differ from terrestrial forests in how their plants suit the environment. The soil contains organic matter from humus and has lots of nutrients. The water is less salty than seawater but changes its salinity all the time with tides.

Animals in mangroves are also different from those in terrestrial forests. They are adapted to the constantly changing conditions. The soil is cooler and has less oxygen. Water salinity keeps changing. Animals include invertebrates like shrimps, shellfish, crabs, which use mangroves as spawning grounds and nurseries.

Mangroves also protect coasts from erosion as well as wind and storms. They absorb carbon too. Yet Thailand’s mangroves are shrinking. They are losing space and suffer from deforestation and other human activities... Shall we start to conserve mangroves? Or shall we let them decline so that our children can’t enjoy them?

Story by: Kotchakorn Rattanama, Biodiversity Researcher, RISC

Reference:
Department of Environmental Quality Promotion: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
​Department of Marine and Coastal Resources: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ​
Royal Forest Department: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment