Valuing habitat quality for managing mangrove ecosystem services in coastal Tangerang District, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic state, and it possesses a large area of mangrove ecosystems. However, awareness of the ecosystem services produced by these ecosystems is relatively low. The aim of this study was to value the habitat quality of mangroves with respect to mangrove ecosystem services using a “supply” scheme framework as part of supporting ecosystem services. with the Tangerang Coastal Area of Banten Province, Indonesia serving as case study. The findings revealed that the habitat quality could be divided into three value categories: high, medium, and low. The mangrove ecosystem has the highest value at the US $189,027.25 per ha. Within the Tangerang Coastal District, the highest habitat quality value was in the Mauk Sub District, which has, therefore, been placed in the highest category. High habitat quality means that the mangroves can function and be used properly such as the place for spawning and breeding of biota that inhabit their ecosystem. This shows that good habitat quality will also have high economic value. Maintaining and managing mangroves well over the long term will yield the benefits of the mangrove ecosystem and contribute more to the growth of the regional economy.