Brief notes on the important of mangrove in Sabah

Abstract

Mangroves dominate natural shorelines of Sabah and occupied approximately 60% of the total mangroves of Malaysia, yet their utilization by fishes, shrimps and other marine fauna is poorly understood. The focus of this notes is to identify the importance of mangrove habitats in relation to assemblage-level patterns of fish use, with very few studies or reviews on species-specific estimates of abundance, growth, mortality, and secondary production. It is hope that more studies will be carried out and strive towards obtaining such estimates, gauging the importance of mangroves as fish and marine fauna habitat and their broader contribution to ecosystem diversity and net production that indirectly beneficial to local communities' livelihoods. The activity on mangrove rehabilitation and restoration efforts will be continued as to balance the degradation of mangrove over the past 30 years. Efforts are needed to balance natural resource protection with pressing socioeconomic considerations.

Full text

Brief notes on the important of mangrove in Sabah
Compiled by,
Tangah J, Chan H.T. & Shigeyuki Baba
SFD-ISME Collaborative Project
Forest Research Centre
Sabah Forestry Department
P O Box 1407
90715 Sandakan, Sabah
13 November 2020
Abstract
Mangroves dominate natural shorelines of Sabah and occupied approximately 60% of the total mangroves
of Malaysia, yet their utilization by fishes, shrimps and other marine fauna is poorly understood. The focus
of this notes is to identify the importance of mangrove habitats in relation to assemblage-level patterns of
fish use, with very few studies or reviews on species-specific estimates of abundance, growth, mortality,
and secondary production. It is hope that more studies will be carried out and strive towards obtaining such
estimates, gauging the importance of mangroves as fish and marine fauna habitat and their broader
contribution to ecosystem diversity and net production that indirectly beneficial to local communities’
livelihoods. The activity on mangrove rehabilitation and restoration efforts will be continued as to balance
the degradation of mangrove over the past 30 years. Efforts are needed to balance natural resource
protection with pressing socio-economic considerations.
Introduction
Mangrove forests are a dominant feature of the coastal shoreline in Sabah. Throughout their range, these
habitats are declining due to deforestation and conversion into agriculture, aquaculture, and infrastructure
development. According to Alongi (2002) approximately one-third of the world’s mangrove forests has
been lost to coastal development over the past 50 years, and over the past 30 years, since 1990 a total of
7,435 hectares have been lost in Sabah (Hamdan et al. 2020).
While there is a general agreement that mangrove habitats provide a buffer against storm surges, reduce
shoreline erosion and turbidity, absorb and transform nutrients, and are inhabited by a variety of
organisms, opinions vary as to the importance of mangrove habitats to fishes and by extension, to offshore
fisheries. The protection of mangroves in Malaysia and in particular Sabah is based almost entirely on the
importance to fisheries and/or a few rare and endangered species. The importance of commercial fishes
and fisheries in Sabah was also highlighted by Datuk Chin Phui Kong in his book titled “The Marine
Food Fishes and Fisheries of Sabah” published in 1998 which gives us a snapshot of the richness of
Sabah’s coastal ecosystems.
However, because the same mangrove species can often occur under marine, estuarine, and freshwater
conditions, a wide variety of fish assemblages can be found among their mangrove habitats. As such the
inundated mangrove habitats likely play a variety of roles in the lives of associated fishes, e.g. feeding
areas for other species at certain life stages, daytime refugia, nursery and/or nesting areas for other fishes.
This situation suggests that the contribution of mangrove habitats must be given proper and careful
consideration. This is because any conversion of mangrove swamps into shrimp farming, agriculture and
infrastructural development can be detrimental to the environment. At the same time there is an urgent
need to protect the fishery resources and fishery-related habitats and promote the enjoyment of fishing as a
recreational activity.

The mangrove of Sabah
The mangroves coverage in Sabah is estimated at 378,195 ha or 60% of the country’s total (Hamdan et. al.
2020). Under the Sabah Forest Enactment (1968), more than 90% of the mangrove area is gazette as
Permanent Forest Reserve (PFR) (Table 1), which is to cater mainly for domestic demand or sustainable
traditional users, protection, conservation for marine life and ecotourism purposes (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
Figure 1: Various classes of Forest Reserves (FR) in Sabah (SFD, 2017).

Figure 2: Distribution of major mangrove forests and townships in Sabah.
1 = Menumbok FR, 2 = Sg. Sugut, Paitan & Pulau Jambongan FR, 3 = Kuala Bonggaya & Kuala Labuk
FR, 4 = Elopura FR, 5 = Trusan Kinabatangan FR, 6 = Kuala Segama & Kuala Maruap FR, 7= Lahad Datu
FR, and 8 = Tawau FR.
Table 1: Classification of Mangrove forests in Sabah, (Lohuji & Tangah, 2019).
i.) Mangrove Forest Reserves (Class V Mangrove Forests) in Sabah.
Class V
Mangrove Forest Reserve
Forestry District
Area (ha)
Total Area
(ha)
Abai
Kota Belud
1,396
Bengkoka Peninsula
Kota Marudu &
Pitas
13,283
Elopura
Sandakan
24,607
24,685
Ext.
78
Kuala Bonggaya & Kuala Labuk
Beluran &
Sandakan
43,217
43,253
Ext.
36
Kuala Tingkayu
Kunak
3,822
Kudat
Kudat
7,065
Lahad Datu
Lahad Datu
9,705
9,754
Ext.
49
Menumbok
Beaufort
1,843

Pulau Malawali
Kudat
791
Semporna
Semporna
22,911
Sibyte
Sandakan
2,364
Sulaman Lake
Kota Kinabalu
2,635
Sg. Gum-Gum & Sg. Loboh
Sandakan
3,086
Sg. Sugut, Paitan & Pulau
Jambongan
Pitas & Beluran
38,564
38,708
Ext.
144
Tawau
Tawau &
Kalabakan
25,036
Trusan Kinabatangan
Kinabatangan
31,407
Total
232,039
ii.) Other Forest Reserves (Class I-Protection Forest, Class IV-Amenity Forest, Class VI-Virgin Jungle
Reserve, and Class VII- Wildlife Reserve) in Sabah with mangrove vegetation.
Class I
Protection Forest
Forestry District
Area
(ha)
Total Area
(ha)
Kuala Bonggaya & Kuala Labuk
Beluran &
Sandakan
13,188
Kuala Segama & Kuala Maruap
Lahad Datu
23,993
Ext.
173
Marudu Bay
Kota Marudu
6,915
Menumbok
Beaufort
3,867
14,745
Ext.
10,878
Pulau Bangi & Pulau
Balambangan
Kudat
11,504
Sitompok
Beaufort
586
Sugut Wildlife Corridor
Beluran
300
368
Ext.
68
Sungai Lasun & Pulau Evans
Lahad Datu
3,357
Sungai Maruap
Kinabatangan
6,789
Sungai Segama
Lahad Datu
600
Tawau
Tawau
13,158
Trusan Kinabatangan
Kinabatangan
9,064
12,898
Ext.
3,834
Weston
Beaufort
293
659
Ext.
366
Total
108,933
Class IV
Amenity Forest
Forestry District
Area
(ha)
Total Area
(ha)
Kampung Hindian
Beaufort
496
Nabahan
Beaufort
356
485
Ext.
129
Padas Damit
Beaufort
7,587
7,899
Ext.
312
Total
8,880
Class VI
Virgin Jungle Reserve
Forestry District
Area
(ha)
Total Area
(ha)
Batumapun (Mangrove)
Tawau
164

Sepilok (Mangrove)
Sandakan
1,235
Sungai Gologob
Kinabatangan
7,900
8,106
Ext.
206
Total
9,505
Class VII
Wildlife Reserve
Forestry District
Area
(ha)
Total Area
(ha)
Balat Damit
Kinabatangan
4,140
4,810
Ext.
670
Total
4,810
Generally, mangroves in Sabah can be classified into several mangroves forest types, which are dominated
by one or two dominance species. They are normally found in the seaward zone i.e. Avicennia-Sonneratia
forest, comprises mainly Avicennia alba, Avicennia marina, Sonneratia alba, and Sonneratia caseolaris.
With their extensive rooting systems of pneumatophores, they represent the early colonizers of the
accreting seaward zone of mangroves. The main mangrove zone also known as Rhizophora forest,
dominated by tree species of Rhizophora apiculata while Rhizophora mucronata occurs along river and
creek banks (Nilus et al. 2010). The typical features of Rhizophora forests are dense network of stilt roots.
The back-mangrove zone or the Bruguiera forest, normally occurs at the landward margin of Rhizophora
forests. Bruguiera cylindrica and Bruguiera parviflora are the most dominant species. The common palms
found in the back mangroves zone of Sabah are Calamus erinaceus (Rotan Bakau) and Oncosperma
tigillarium (Nibung).
In the open sites and riparian fringes, Acrostichum ferns are common. The Nypa forest, mostly occurs
along the banks of rivers in the upstream where there is greater freshwater influence. The stemless Nipah
palms (Nypa fruticans) grow gregariously in pure stands with dense fronds and mud-lobster mounds are a
common feature). The mangrove flora consists of ferns, herbs, palms, woody climbers, trees and shrubs.
The fauna includes invertebrates (crustaceans, chelicerates and insects) and vertebrates (fish, amphibians,
reptiles, mammals and birds).
Although there are still vast areas of mangrove forests in Sabah, they are under increasing pressures for
socio-economic development, such as conversion to aquaculture, agriculture, human settlements, and
urban land uses. Based on the past assessment of mangrove forest cover of Sabah in 2005, approx. 3000 ha
of mangrove forest reserves have been illegally encroached, exploited and destroyed. This need to be
rehabilitated.
List of mangrove plants in Sabah
List of all mangrove plants found in the mangrove vegetation of Sabah was carried out by the Mangrove
Task Force (MTF) team members of SFD-ISME Collaboration Project in Sabah. Efforts have been made to
document all mangrove plants and associate species found or encountered within the mangrove ecosystems
and the surrounding areas under this collaboration project over the past years.
For the record there are two species of mangrove i.e. Sonneratia hainanensis (a new hybrid species
in Sabah with parents trees derived from Sonneratia caseolaris and Sonneratia alba) and the Bruguiera
hainesii (highly endangered mangrove species and listed as the IUCN Red List categories) have been
recorded in Sabah. The preliminary listing of mangrove plants species found in Sabah is divided as true
mangrove and associate mangrove plants species (Geisen et al. 2007; Nilus et al. 2010).
Guided by ISME under the auspices of SFD-ISME Mangrove Collaboration Project in Sabah, the
MTF team has been using mature propagules and seedlings of suitable species for mangrove planting
throughout the mangrove forest reserves in Sabah (Tangah et al. 2020). The project is funded by Tokio
Marine Nichido & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd, Japan since 2011, and expected to be finalized in 2025.

Planting locations were carried out in all selected mangroves areas that are highly degraded, and
by the end of 2019 the collaboration projects have covered 351.5 hectares with a total of 444,133 planting
material. Assessment of growth of all planted mangrove plants will be carried out in selected rehabilitation
areas in Sabah under this SFD-ISME Mangrove Rehabilitation Project. In this preliminary report we
recorded 33 true mangroves species and 39 other plants or associate mangrove species found in Sabah.
Preliminary list of mangrove plants in Sabah are shown in Figure. 3 and Figure. 4.
Figure 3: True mangrove species found in Sabah.
(Note: * common ** fairly common *** uncommon **** rather uncommon)
No
Scientific Name
Common Name
Family
1
Aegiceras corniculatum*
Saka Mata
Primulaceae
2
Aegiceras floridum**
Teruntun
Primulaceae
3
Acanthus ebracteatus*
Jeruju Hitam
Acanthaceae
4
Acanthus ilicifolius*
Jeruju Putih
Acanthaceae
5
Acrostichum aureum*
Piai Raya
Pteridaceae
6
Acrostichum speciosum*
Piai Laut
Pteridaceae
7
Avicennia alba*
Api-Api Hitam
Rhizophoraceae
8
Avicennia marina*
Api-Api Putih
Rhizophoraceae
9
Avicennia officinalis*
Api-Api Jangkang
Rhizophoraceae
10
Brownlowia argentata**
Durian Laut
Malvaceae
11
Bruguiera parviflora*
Lengadai
Rhizophoraceae
12
Bruguiera cylindrica*
Beus
Rhizophoraceae
13
Bruguiera sexangula*
Mata Buaya
Rhizophoraceae
14
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza*
Putut
Rhizophoraceae
15
Bruguiera hainesii****
Berus Mata Buaya
Rhizophoraceae
16
Ceriops tagal*
Tengar
Rhizophoraceae
17
Ceriops zippeliana**
Tengar Tirog
Rhizophoraceae
18
Excoecaria agallocha*
Buta Buta
Euphorbiaceae
19
Kandelia candel*
Linggayong
Rhizophoraceae
20
Lumnitzera racemosa*
Geriting Putih
Combretaceae
21
Lumnitzera littorea*
Geriting Merah
Combreatceae
22
Nypa fruticans*
Nipah
Arecaceae
23
Osbornia octodonta***
Gelam Laut
Myrtaceae
24
Rhizophora apiculata*
Bangkita
Rhizophoraceae
25
Rhizophora mucronata*
Bakau Kurap
Rhizophoraceae
26
Rhizophora stylosa**
Bakau Hitam
Rhizophoraceae
27
Sonneratia alba*
Pedada
Lythraceae
28
Sonneratia x hainanensis****
Hybrid Pedada
Lythraceae
29
Sonneratia caseolaris*
Perepat
Lythraceae
30
Sonneratia ovata**
Gedabu
Lythraceae
31
Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea*
Landing-Landing
Rubiaceae
32
Xylocarpus granatum*
Nyireh Bunga
Meliaceae
33
Xylocarpus moluccensis**
Nyireh Batu
Meliaceae

Figure 4: Associates mangrove species and other coastal plants species found in Sabah.
(Note: * common ** fairly common *** uncommon **** rather uncommon)
No
Scientific Name
Common Name
Family
1
Aganope heptaphylla*
Tali Berkumpul
Fabaceae
2
Aglaia cucullata*
Langsat Laut
Meliaceae
3
Asplenium nidus*
Tapakoh
Aspleniaceae
4
Caesalpinia crista**
Bonduk / Gorek
Fabaceae
5
Calamus erinaceus**
Rotan Bakau
Arecaceae
6
Cassine viburnifolia***
Pungsu
Celastraceae
7
Casuarina equisetifolia*
Rhu Laut
Casuarinaceae
8
Cerbera manghas**
Kambau
Apocynaceae
9
Cerbera odollam*
Pong-Pong
Apocynaceae
10
Croton heterocarpus*
Melokan
Euphorbiaceae
11
Crinum asiaticum*
Bunga Bangkung
Amaryllidaceae
12
Cryptocoryne ciliata**
Keladi Payau
Araceae
13
Dendrolobium umbellatum*
Semak Kuda
Fabaceae
14
Derris trifoliata*
Tuba Laut
Fabaceae
15
Dolichandrone spathacea*
Tui Kelaju
Bignoniaceae
16
Dillenia suffruticosa*
Simpoh Bini
Dilleniaceae
17
Excoecaria indica*
Apid-Apid
Euphorbiaceae
18
Flagellaria indica*
Rotan Tikus (Supplejack)
Flagellariaceae
19
Ficus microcarpa*
Jejawi
Moraceae
20
Heritiera globosa*
Dungun Daun Besar
Malvaceae
21
Heritiera littoralis*
Dungun Laut
Malvaceae
22
Ilex cymosa*
Masoli
Aquifoliaceae
23
Inocarpus fagiferus*
Kerapit
Fabaceae
24
Instia bijuga*
Ipil Laut
Fabaceae
25
Lasia spinosa*
Lasik
Araceae
26
Merope angulata*
Limau Laut
Rutaceae
27
Milletia pinnata*
Marabahai
Fabaceae
28
Morinda citrifolia*
Mengkudu
Rubiaceae
29
Oncosperma tigillarium**
Nibung
Arecaceae
30
Pandanus tectorius*
Pandan Laut
Pandanaceae
31
Pouteria obovata**
Nyatoh Laut
Sapotaceae
32
Scaevola taccada*
Merembang
Goodeniaceae
33
Stenochlaena palustris*
Lembiding
Blechnaceae
34
Talipariti tiliaceum*
Bebaru
Malvaceae
35
Terminalia catappa*
Ketapang
Combretaceae
36
Thespesia populnea*
Pangis
Malvaceae
37
Vitex pinnata*
Kulimpapa
Lamiaceae
38
Ipomea pes-caprae*
Katong-Katong
Convolvulaceae
39
Pluchea indica*
Gedabu
Asteraceae
Mangrove portal for Sabah
Suggestion for mangrove portal for Sabah is another approach towards mangrove education and
information outreach program which is greatly needed. Collaboration with relevant authorities such as
ISME, Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency/Agensi Remote Sensing Malaysia (ARSM) and Forestry
Department Peninsular Malaysia to develop a mangrove portal is urgently needed. At present
establishment of mangrove portal is still ongoing which is under the supervision of ARSM and Forestry
Department Peninsular Malaysia. This portal will enhance the capability and systematic information
gathering of mangrove management and related issues on mangrove in Sabah and Malaysia in general.

References
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Giesen, W., Wulffraat, S., Zieren, M. & Scholten, L. (2007). Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Wetlands International. 769 pp.
Hamdan Omar, Tariq M.H. & Ismail, P. (2020). Status of Mangrove in Malaysia. FRIM. 300 pp.
Lohuji, P.L. & Tangah, J. (2019). Brief notes on mangrove forest reserves in Sabah based on the Forest
Enactment 1968. Unpublished Report of the Sabah Forestry Department, 5 pp.
Nilus, R., Chung, A.Y.C., Pereira, J.T., Sugau, J.B., Tangah, J., Sabran, S. & Chong, R.F.Y. (2010).
Mangroves of Sabah: An Introduction to the Flora and Fauna. Sabah Forestry Department. 151 pp.
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Tangah, J., Chung, A.Y.C., Baba, S., Chan, H.T. & Kezuka, M. (2020). Rehabilitation of Mangroves in
Sabah – The SFD-ISME collaboration (2014-2019). Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), International
Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 70 pp.