REHABILITATIOM OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM IN THAILAND

Abstract

Human activities have caused severe destruction of mangrove forests especially in Thailand where more than a half of mangrove areas was destroyed during the past 32 years (1961 - 1993). The mangrove forests have been exploited for various purpose. Many efforts have been done to solve problem on the conflicts of mangrove land use. Mangrove areas were classified into three zones, i.e. preservation zone for conservation of nature and environment, economic zone A for conservation of forestry product, and economic zone B for other development programmes. Thailand is taking proper measure to rehabilitate the degraded mangrove ecosystem. Because the destruction of woody part causes the deterioration of the ecosystems concerned, thus, artificial plantation of mangrove forests are widely introduced to rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems, In 1992, reforestation programme of mangrove forest was approved by the government. Total area of 40,000 ha including 9,184 ha in preservation zone, and 30,816 ha in economic zone A were expected to be reforested by the end of 1996. Mangrove Forest Seed Production Centers were established to supply the seedlings for each region. New technology in handling propagules, planting and establishing plantation have been developed. However, the knowledge concerning mangrove ecosystem, i.e. conservation utilization, and rehabilitation, is still an urgent need for Thailand.