Mangrove in the Urban Area of Small Islands: Vegetation Health, Potential, and Management Challenges

Abstract

Indonesia is the largest habitat of mangroves in the world which many are distributed in the urban areas of small islands. However, knowledge about conditions, potential, and management challenges of mangrove in these urban areas are still scarce. This study’s objectives are to assess mangrove conditions, potential threats, and the perception of local people. In the last two decades, mangrove cover in the main city of Ambon decreased at the rate of 0.75% y−1 and the status of the vegetation health was poor. In contrast, there was no much change in the mangrove areas of a satellite city, Tual and it has healthy mangrove forests. Mangrove forests have a good potential for carbon storage, either in Tual (191 Mg C ha−1 or 703 Mg CO2e ha−1) or Ambon (120 Mg C ha−1 or 441 Mg CO2e ha−1). Estimates of the economic value of carbon sequestration by mangrove forests in Tual and Ambon were US$ 30,896 and US$ 49,195 ha−1. The management challenges include mangrove deforestation, plastic pollution, and low public participation. Given the significant economic values of the mangrove areas and their potential carbon loss due to mangrove deforestation, avoiding mangrove deforestation, restoring the ecosystem, and strengthening conservation actions in small islands’ urban areas are crucial to ensure the sustainable use of mangrove resources.