What are the benefits of having mangrove forests?
“Mangrove forest” is an ecosystem where many animals and plants live together in an environment that is muddy, brackish water and is constantly flooded by seawater. Therefore, we find mangrove forests along the coast, river mouths, lakes and around islands in coastal areas. The most abundant and important plant species for mangrove forests is the mangrove tree. Many people may have heard of the mangrove tree. Therefore, mangrove forests are also called “mangrove forests”. In addition to mangrove trees, there are other species of trees that are equally important to mangrove forests, such as the white acacia, the sea acacia and the garcinia cambogia.
Apart from plants, there are many other species of animals that live in mangrove forests and are very important to the ecosystem, such as crabs, earthworms, fish, and shrimp. In addition to living things, mangrove forests also have non-living things, such as nutrients, minerals, water, plant and animal remains, as well as climate conditions such as temperature, light, rain, humidity, etc.
The general environment of mangrove forests is very different from other types of forest ecosystems, especially the soil. This is because the soil in mangrove forests is very fertile and rich in minerals. These nutrients come from coastal erosion, streams, organic matter from plant and animal remains in mangrove forests, and plankton, etc. In addition, we can see that mangrove forests are a combination of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, animals or plants living in mangrove forests must adapt to survive in such conditions, such as mudskippers that can live on land, in fresh water, brackish water, and in the natural saltwater around them.
The importance and benefits of mangrove forests
Mangrove forests are considered another ecosystem and a natural resource with great value, both environmentally and economically, as follows:
Environmental
1.It is a forest that can absorb carbon dioxide more than other types of forests because mangrove forests absorb carbon dioxide and pull it into the seabed or coastal mud. In absorbing carbon dioxide into the ocean or sea, it is considered the largest carbon storage in the world, which will also reduce global warming for the world.
2. It is a nursery for young aquatic animals and a refuge for many aquatic animals. Mangrove forests are rich in nutrients, which are very suitable for the growth of young aquatic animals. Mangrove forests have a lot of sediment and mud, making the water murky. There are fallen leaves and various tree roots. This environment is a good shelter for young aquatic animals. For all the reasons mentioned, mangrove forests are a nursery for young aquatic animals and a refuge for aquatic animals.
3. It is an important food source for aquatic animals. Since mangrove forests contain a large amount of plant and animal remains, they decompose and become nutrients that are very important for aquatic animals. In addition, mangrove forests also contain many minerals that come from erosion along the coast and various streams, making mangrove forests an important food source for aquatic animals.
4. Helps prevent coastal erosion. In mangrove forests, there are tree roots that can help prevent coastal erosion very well. These tree roots, along with other trees, can help reduce the speed of the currents that hit the shore. Coastal erosion will be reduced, etc.
Economic
1. Vegetables and herbs in mangrove forests can be eaten and can generate income for the community. Plants that grow in mangrove forests can be eaten and currently, many restaurants are using vegetables and herbs in mangrove forests to generate income by using them to cook various menus for customers to try, such as Cha-Kram leaf salad, which is a popular menu that restaurants near mangrove forests use as ingredients or products that can generate a lot of income for the community.
2. It is an ecotourism attraction. Currently, ecotourism attractions are very popular. In addition, there are many volunteer activities that invite people to plant mangrove forests, making it another tourist attraction with a lot of tourists visiting.
Currently, the top 5 provinces with the largest mangrove forests in Thailand are Phang Nga, Satun, Krabi, Trang and Ranong, respectively. Phang Nga Province, which has the largest mangrove forest area, has a total area of 288,444 rai. According to data from 2020, the country with the largest mangrove forest in the world is Indonesia, with a total area of 17,575,000 rai.
From the study of carbon dioxide sequestration by mangrove trees in the mangrove plantation area of Thailand, it was found that mangrove forests can absorb up to 9.4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per rai per year, which can reduce the cause of global warming. Of course, if we have more mangrove forests, the global warming problem we face will be reduced because the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be less than it is at present.
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