Zonat i on

Zonat i on

Mang ro ve fo rests are o ften c harac terized by a plant zo natio n. Typic al zo nes are g ro uping s o f the same spec ies within the mang ro ve fo rest. This zo natio n o ften o c c urs bec ause different mang ro ve spec ies need partic ular c o nditio ns to g ro w, fo r example in the variety o f water pro vided by tide s, salinity o f the so il o r the amo unt o f fresh water available.

S S St ep 2: H ydrology S S t ep 2: H ydrology t ep 2: H ydrology t ep 2: H ydrology t ep 2: H ydrology

The mo st impo rtant fac to r in desig ning a suc c essful mang ro ve resto ratio n pro jec t is to understand the no rmal hydro lo g ic patterns that influenc e the distributio n and

g ro wth o f existing natural mang ro ve plant c o mmunities in the area yo u wish to resto re. This c o mprises the determining fac to rs suc h as depth, duratio n and frequenc y o f tidal inundatio n and tidal flo o ding . It is essential to no te and mo nito r the c ritic al perio ds o f inundatio n and dryness that influenc e the health o f the mang ro ve fo rest.

Global Nat ure Fund – EU Asia Pro Ec o IIB 5 5

The fo llo wing sc heme based o n deg ree and frequenc y o f tidal inundatio n develo ped by Watso n ( 1928) is o ften used to desc ribe mang ro ve hydro lo g y and zo nes.

Floodi ng Frequency Class

Hei ght above chart

Flooded By

dat um i n f eet ( met ers)

( t imes/ mont h)

1 All hig h tides

0- 8 ( 2. 44)

56- 62

2 Medium hig h tides

8- 11 ( 3. 35)

45- 59

3 No rmal hig h tides

11- 13 ( 3. 96)

20- 45

4 Spring hig h tides

13- 15 ( 4. 57)

2- 20

5 Abno rmal ( equino c tial tides)

So urc e: Mang ro ve Ac tio n Pro jec t

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It must be determined whether the targ et area fo r an intended resto ratio n was a mang ro ve area in the past. It is then impo rtant to understand and po ssibly remo ve disturbanc es that mig ht prevent the natural suc c essio n o f mang ro ve fo rest in that area. Po tential stresses o n the lo c atio n sho uld be investig ated and, if po ssible, eliminated. It is c ruc ial to invo lve the lo c al c o mmunities in this pro c ess

Cattles in mang ro ves