The Hindu Business Line : FAO not for massive planting of mangroves

THE UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said that rehabilitation of mangroves should be taken up for speedy recovery of coastal eco-systems. But large-scale planting should be undertaken with caution, it said.

FAO does not recommend massive planting of mangroves in areas where it would replace other valuable ecosystems, such as turtle nesting grounds and sea grass beds.

Mangroves contribute directly to rural livelihoods by providing wood and non-wood forest products, including timber, poles, fuelwood and thatch for houses, and indirectly by providing spawning grounds and nutrients for fish and shellfish. Mangroves can also help protect coastal areas from future tidal waves, according to Mr Mette Løyche Wilkie, an FAO expert on mangroves.

"The real issue is overall coastal management, not just the presence or absence of trees," the FAO said quoting Mr Patrick Durst, senior forestry officer in the FAO regional office for Asia and the Pacific.

Management of mangroves and other vegetation is only one component of comprehensive coastal management, which also works to ensure appropriate development of fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, roads and other infrastructure, industry, tourism and residential living areas.

Mangroves cover an area of around 15 million hectares (or 150,000 sq km) worldwide with close to 40 per cent of this area found in the countries affected by the tsunami. Mangroves and other coastal forests and trees were adversely affected by the recent tsunami.

The extent of the damage is still not clear and it may take some time before the final impact is known.

"What we do know is that the demand for fuelwood, for wood to rebuild houses and infrastructure and for constructing fishing boats is substantial," FAO said quoting Mr Jim Carle, an expert on plantations. "This is likely to lead to further pressure on the coastal forests, including mangroves," he said.

Extensive areas of mangroves can reduce loss of life and damage caused by tsunamis. During the recent tsunami, the Pichavaram mangrove forest in Tamil Nadu in India slowed down the waves, protecting around 1,700 people living in hamlets built inland between 100 to 1,000 meters from the mangroves. In Malaysia, in areas where the mangrove forests were intact, there was reduced damage, the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association observed. Officials in Sri Lanka made similar observations. In Indonesia, the death toll in the island of Simeuleu, located close to the epicentre was relatively low, partly due to mangrove forests that surrounded the island.

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