Evaluation of mangrove rehabilitation and afforestation in the southern coasts of Iran. (31st October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahmoudi, Beytollah; Mafi-Gholami, Davood; Ng, Eric
• Is Part Of: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science. Volume 277(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-31
• Subjects: Mangrove forest -- Rehabilitation -- Afforestation -- Sustainability -- Iran; Estuarine oceanography -- Periodicals; Coasts -- Periodicals; Estuarine biology -- Periodicals; Seashore biology -- Periodicals; Coasts; Estuarine biology; Estuarine oceanography; Seashore biology; Periodicals; 551.461805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-7714

Abstract

Abstract: The increasing multiple ecosystem services of mangrove forests, especially in the coastal regions have highlighted a need for conservation and afforestation of these forests. However, economic development and activities on the coasts have generated severe pollution issues that caused irreparable damages to the areas and quality of mangrove forests. As a result, rehabilitating the affected areas and forest planting are increasingly important, whereby some form of an assessment is needed to determine their sustainable performance and effectives. This study has used the indicators of forest resource sustainability, and the sustainability of planting sites to evaluate mangrove plantings in Iran's southern coast. Findings showed that there was a total of 47 mangrove planting sites on the coasts of the three provinces studied with an area of 9584.5 ha. There were 26 afforestation practice sites with an area of 5724 ha, and 21 combined rehabilitation and afforestation practice sites with an area of 3860.5 ha identified in this study. Approximately 76.6% of planting sites had been lost and the remaining areas had experienced an average density drop of 44%. Results of the stability class analysis revealed that 23 planting sites were in an extremely unsustainable state, 15 sites were considered as highly unsustainable, six sites were in a state of tendency to be unsustainable, whereas only three sites were regarded as sustainable. Findings from this study can assist managers and decision makers to review the site selection processes and pattern of successful planting sites, to facilitate better site selection and enhance the monitoring of mangrove rehabilitation or afforestation. Highlights: Evaluation and development of a model for monitoring the sustainability of mangrove forestation in Iran. Changes in area, density, and generation rate and height growth were the key indicators. 76.6% of planting sites had been lost and the remaining areas had experienced an average density drop of 44%.