Mangrove forests are mainly found on the marine alluvium along sheltered coasts and estuarias both in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. They are of simple structure with Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera, Sonneratia and Xylocarpus sp. in species-specific belts depending on soil and inundation patterns. Tree height ranges between 7 and 25 m. Local people use wood from mangroves for building materials, for fish traps, and also for firewood and charcoal. Two types of swamp palm are also included in the forest, nipah (Nypa fructicans) and nibong (Oncosperma horrida). Nypa fructicans is a general utility species providing local products such as housing thatch, cigarette paper, sugar, alcohol, vinegar and salt. This species frequently occurs in pure stands, while nibong occurs in the drier zone of the mangrove forest.
FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.
Year |
Area |
Source |
Trend |
Methodology/Comments |
1975 |
688 634 |
FAO. 1982. Management and utilization of mangroves in Asia and the Pacific. FAO environment paper 3. 160 pp. |
X |
Compiled information based on: West Malaysia: FAO. 1973. Forestry and forest industries development. Malaysia. A national forest inventory of West Malaysia, 1970-72. Kuala Lumpur. 259 p. DO/DP/MAL/72/009/TR5. Sarawak: Forest Department. 1976. Annual Report of the Forest Department. Sattawak. Sabah: Liew, T.C., Diah, M.N., and Wong Y.C. 1977. Mangrove exploitation and regeneration in Sabah. In: Sastry, C.B., Srivastava, P.B.L. and Ahman, A.M. A new Era in Malaysian Forestry. p. 95-109. Serdang, Malaysia. |
1977 |
655 572 |
de la Cruz, A. A. 1984. A realistic approach to the use and management of mangrove areas in Southeast Asia. In: Teas, H.J., ed. 1984. Physiology and management of mangroves. Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague. The Netherlands. |
Calculated from figures reported in the Proceedings of the Workshop on Mangrove and Estuarine Vegetation. 10 Dec 1977. University Pertanian Malaysia Fakulti Perhutanan, Serdang, Selangor. Secondary source, no primary source provided. | |
1978 |
637 739 |
Ong, J.E. 1978. Mangroves in Malaysia. In: P. Kunstadter and Snedaker S.C. |
Cited in: Snedaker, S.C. 1984. The mangroves of Asia and Oceania: status and research planning. In: Proceedings of the Asian Mangrove Symposium. eds. Soepadmo,E; Rao,AN; McIntosh, DJ. p. 5-15. Percetakan Ardyas Sdn Bhd., Kuala Lumpur. 25-29 August 1980, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | |
1979 |
652 219 |
Sasekumar, A. 1980. Status report on impact of pollution on mangrove ecosystems and related research programmes in Malaysia. Country paper presented during the 12th annual seminar/convention. Federation of Institutions for Marine and Freshwater Sciences. |
Cited in: Gomez, E.D. 1980. The present state of Mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the Impact of Pollution: Regional. Philippines. South China Seas Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme, FAO, UNEP, Manila. 128 pp. | |
1980 |
630 000 |
FAO. 1984. Mangrove Forests in Asia - Pacific Region A summary of available information. GCP/RAS/106/JPN Field Document 1, Bangkok, 44 pp. |
Figure based on information provided by Department of Forestry, Malaysia (1980). It appears to be a rough estimate. | |
1980 |
674 000 |
FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia FAO, UNEP, 475 pp |
X |
Information compiled on the basis of several sources. Updating of aerial photographs and estimation. |
1984 |
642 400 |
Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp. |
X |
Map analysis. (Sabah 1:1 270 000 Sarawak 1:1 000 000. Peninsular |
1986 |
577 000 |
NATMANCOM. 1981. Guidelines for the use of the mangrove ecosystem for brackishwater aquaculture in Malaysia. Paper prepared by the committee formed under the auspices of the National Council for Scientific Research and Development, Ministry of Sciences Technology and Environment. |
This figure should be considered as on the lower side of the extent of mangroves. Secondary reference, no primary source provided. | |
1990 |
641 172 |
Anon. 1989. Forestry in Sabah, Malaysia. Sabah Forestry Department Publication. 164pp.; Anon. 1991. Forestry in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sarawak Forestry Department Publication. 47 pp.; Chan, H.T. 1991. The need to develop a management scheme for mangrove forest in South Johor to ensure resource sustenance. In: Chou, L.M. et al. eds. Towards an Integrated Management of Tropical Coastal Resources. 311-315 pp. ICLARM Conference Proceedings 22 Manila, Philippines. 455 pp. |
X |
Cited in: Chan, H.T., J.E. Ong, W.K. Gong and A. Sasekumar. 1993. The socio-economic, ecological and environmental values of mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia and their present state of conservation. The Economic and environmental values of mangrove forests and their present state of conservation in the South-East Asia/Pacific Region. p. 41-81. Mangrove Ecosystems Technical Reports vol.3 ITTO/ISME/JIAM Project PD71/89. Rev. 1(F) Okinawa, Japan, ISME. 202 pp. The "Year" is the average weighted year. |
1995 |
650 000 |
Kelleher, G., Bleakley, C. and Wells, S. 1995. A global representative system of marine protected areas. Vol.II-III-IV Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, IBRD, The World Bank, IUCN. IBRD |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. The figure seems a rough estimate. | |
1995 |
620 000 |
FAO, 1997. Asia-pacific forestry sector outlook study. Country Report – Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study. Working Paper Series (FAO), no. 7 / FAO, Bangkok (Thailand). Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific , Jun 1997 , 30 pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. Rough estimate reporting figures from previous years. | |
1995 |
587 269 |
Ibid. |
X |
Combined national level mangrove estimate based on the following sources: Peninsular: Perak State Forestry Department. 2001. Matang Mangrove Forest. (Ref Year: 2000) Sarawak: Chan, H.T., J.E. Ong, W.K. Gong and A. Sasekumar. 1993. The socio-economic, ecological and environmental values of mangrove ecosystems in Malaysia and their present state of conservation. The Economic and environmental values of mangrove forests and their present state of conservation in the South-East Asia/Pacific Region. p. 41-81. Mangrove Ecosystems Technical Reports vol.3 ITTO/ISME/JIAM Project PD71/89. Rev. 1(F) Okinawa, Japan, ISME. 202 pp. (Ref Year: 1989). Sabah: Sabah Forestry Department. 1997. Annual Report 1997. (Ref Year: 1997). The reference year is the area weighted average. |
1996 |
98 300 |
WRI, UNEP, UNDP, The World Bank. 1996. World Resources 1996-1997. New York and Oxford University Press 365 pp. |
This figure represents only the Peninsular Malaysia mangroves. | |
2000 |
232 700 |
World Resources Institute. 2000. World resources 2000-2001: people and ecosystem—the fraying web of life. Washington, DC., UNDP. 400 pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. | |
2000 |
640 000 |
Aizpuru, M., Achard, F., and Blasco, F. 2000. Global Assessment of Cover Change of the Mangrove Forests using satellite imagery at medium to high resolution. In EEC Research project n 15017-1999-05 FIED ISP FR – Joint Research center, Ispra. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. |