Thailand

Place                 :  Trat province, Thailand

Location           : 48 P  0223849 m E ,  1348261 m N

The study area covers approximately 106 km² of mangrove forest in Trat Province, along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, bordering Cambodia. It includes extensive natural mangrove stands with common species found in Thailand. However, large-scale rehabilitation efforts without adequate site assessment have led to a Rhizophoraceae monoculture in much of the rehabilitated zone. Additionally, the area contains a landward forest zone previously degraded by shrimp farming and agriculture, which has recently shown natural regeneration. This site was extensively studied during the RESCuE-1 project.

Place: Phang Nga province, Thailand 

Location: 1) 424026.41 m E, 1004427.24 m N

                  2) 447117.96 m E, 925083.69 m N

The study area is Phang Nah province, Thailand, which is along the southern coast of the Thailand and Andaman Sea. The mangrove forest approximately covers 440.51 km2 (https://km.dmcr.go.th/c_11/d_690). The study area includes three main study sites: (1) Mu Ko Ra – Ko Phra Thong; (2) Khao Lampi- Hat Thai Mueang National Park; (3) Ao Phang-Nga National Park. 

Mu Ko Ra – Ko Phra Thong: Mu Ko Ra – Ko Phra Thong National Park boasts impressive biodiversity. To the east lies a narrow sea that separates Koh Phra Thong from the mainland. Along this coastline, from north to south, stretches a continuous mangrove forest. The plant community on the island encompasses mangrove forests, beach forests, swamp forests, and grasslands interspersed with sedum forests. Koh Ra is an island that is positioned in the north-south direction. It has a steep slope with a peak 235 meters above sea level. On the east side of the island, most of the island is mangrove forest. Khao Lampi- Hat Thai Mueang National Park is located in Thai Mueang district and about 60 km west of Phang Nga town. This national park includes beach forest on the seaside, followed by the mangroves along the backlash of canals. Some forested land can be found on the eastern side of the national park followed by Agriculture lands adjacent to the forested area. Ao Phang-Nga National Park: This is the largest national park in Thailand. The well-preserved native mangrove forests along the coast of Phang Nga province. 

Malaysia 

Study site: Setiu Wetlands 

Place: Terengganu State, Malaysia 

Location: 05°36’30” – 05°42’30”N, 102°40’30” – 102°48’30”E)

             

Setiu Wetlands, located in State Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, consists of several mangrove patches within a narrow lagoon system. The mangrove vegetation here is of particular importance due to >20 species with several true (e.g. Avicennia alba Blume, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk., Bruguiera cylindrica (L.) Blume, Xylocarpus granatum König), rare (Lumnitzera littorea (Jack) Voigt), and hybrid (Bruguiera hainesii C.G. Rogers, Sonneratia hainanensis W.C. Ko, E.Y.Chen & W.Y.Chen, Rhizophora annamalayana Kathiresan) species. Setiu Wetlands were established before ca. 280 yr BP, whereas the separation of the lagoon from the South China Sea took place in around 500 yr BP. This clearly shows the historical importance of Setiu for the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, local people depend on the wetlands for their livelihood through finfish and shellfish collection, cage culture, non-timber forest products, handicrafts making, etc. 

Cambodia

Study site: Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary

Place: Koh Kong Province, Cambodia

Location: 103.05° , 11.52°

Map of Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary

Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in southwestern Cambodia. This study site covers around 60% of mangrove forest in Cambodia. The sanctuary is primarily covered by mangrove forest at the western part and evergreen forest to the east. Significantly, it is crossed by many channels and creeks which plays a very important role not only to maintain the key aquatic species but also to facilitate local community travel for both fishing and market activities. At least 64 species of mangroves in which Rhizophora mucronata and other Rhizophora species are the most dominant, cover the largest part of the sanctuary. The sanctuary provides many subsistence and livelihood services for local people who live in and around the areas. In 1993 the Peam Krasop was declared as a wildlife Sanctuary Protected Area with the area of 2, 3750 ha and Adjacent Koh Kapik Ramsar site is 12,000 ha and declared in 1999. Koh Kapik Ramsar Site (KKRS) are rich of biodiversity such as Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris), humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) (cover photo), fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus), spoon-billed sandpipers (Calidris pygmaea), and otters are among the Ramsar site’s key species. Additionally, KKRS is home to a diverse array of birds, reptiles, fish, and plants, the majority of which are currently unrecorded. Six settlements are located on the land, with a total population of somewhat more than 6,000 and 1,350 houses. In KKRS, livelihoods are dependent on the mangrove forest and open sea; fishing is the primary source of income and food for 85 percent of the population. Women pick crabs, mussels, and snails nearshore, whereas males fish nearshore with rowboats and further afield with motorboats (MoE and DANIDA, 2006). Mangroves and seagrass habitats are critical for commercially valuable creatures such as fish, shrimp, mud crabs, violet vinegar crabs, swimming crabs, green mussels, and blood cockles. While the majority of seafood is consumed or sold locally, green mussels are imported and marketed in Thailand. Additionally, the area’s ecotourism sector is growing, creating opportunities for varied revenue generating.