Springer Mangrove Ecosystems of Asia: Status, Challenges and Management Strategies

The book provides an up-to-date account of mangrove forests from Asia, together with restoration techniques, and the management requirements of these ecosystems to ensure their sustainability and conservation. All aspects of mangroves and their conservation are critically re-examined. The book is divided into three sections presenting the distribution and status of mangrove ecosystems in Asia, the challenges they are facing, their issues and opportunities, and the management strategies for their conservation. From the Back Cover Mangrove ecosystems occur in the inter-tidal region between sea and land in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes and provide important ecosystem goods and services. These forests help stabilize shorelines and reduce the devastating impact of natural disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. They serve as breeding and nursing grounds for marine species, and are sources of food, medicine, fuel, and building materials for local communities. However, these ecosystems have been declining at an alarming rate―perhaps even more rapidly than inland tropical forests―and much of what remains is in a degraded condition. Habitat destruction through human encroachment has been the primary cause of mangrove loss. The loss of mangrove habitats has resulted in a decline in fishery resources and biodiversity. This book provides an up-to-date account of mangrove ecosystems in Asia as well as restoration and ecosystem management techniques to ensure the sustainability and conservation of the mangrove. The book is divided into sections presenting the distribution and status of mangrove ecosystems in Asia, the challenges they are facing, the issues and opportunities arising from these challenges, and management strategies for mangrove conservation. About the Author Dr. Ibrahim Faridah-Hanum is a Professor of Forest Botany and Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the 75-year-old journal The Malaysian Forester, editor of the Japanese journal TROPICS, and editor of Pakistan Journal of Botany. Prof. Emeritus Dato' Dr. Abdul Latiff Mohamad has served as a Professor of Botany at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia since 1991 and was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology in 2002. He has published more than 450 papers, abstracts, and reports and has edited more than 60 books and proceedings. Prof. Latiff is the Chairman of WWF (Malaysia) and Chairman of Pulau Banding Foundation (Malaysia). Dr. Khalid Rehman Hakeem is a post doctorate research fellow at Universiti Putra Malaysia. He has  edited and authored more than seven books, more than 20 research publications in peer-reviewed journals, and 10 book chapters. Prof. Munir Ozturk  is a Consultant Fellow at the Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia. He has published more than 400 papers in national and international journals, more than 50 book chapters, and has edited more than 10 books with Springer and Cambridge Scholars.