United Nations UNEP/GEF South China Sea Global Environment Environment Programme Project Facility NATIONAL REPORT on Mangroves in South China Sea CHINA Dr. Hangqing Fan Focal Point for Mangroves Guangxi Mangrove Research Centre 92 East Changqing Road, Beihai City 536000 Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China NATIONAL REPORT ON MANGROVES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA – CHINA Table of Contents 1. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION............................................................................................................1 1.1 MAPS..............................................................................................................................................1 1.2 AREA DISTRIBUTION ........................................................................................................................1 2. MANGROVE SPECIES DISTRIBUTION AND FORMATION...............................................................3 2.1 SPECIES DISTRIBUTION....................................................................................................................3 2.2 FORMATION.....................................................................................................................................4 2.2.1 Bruguiera Formation ...........................................................................................................4 2.2.2 Rhizophora Formation.........................................................................................................5 2.2.3 Kandelia Formation .............................................................................................................5 2.2.4 Aegiceras Formation ...........................................................................................................5 2.2.5 Avicennia Formation ...........................................................................................................5 2.2.6 Sonneratia Formation..........................................................................................................5 2.2.7 Nypa Formation...................................................................................................................5 3. ENVIRONMENTAL STATE...................................................................................................................5 3.1 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC .............................................................................................................5 3.1.1 Macroscopic Factors ...........................................................................................................6 3.1.2 Microcosmic Factors ...........................................................................................................7 3.2 CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTIC ............................................................................................................8 3.2.1 pH in Mangrove Soil............................................................................................................8 3.2.2 Electric Potential of Oxidation Reduction............................................................................8 3.2.3 Organic Matter in the Soil....................................................................................................8 3.2.4 The Salt Content of Mangrove Soil .....................................................................................8 3.2.5 Nutrients in Mangrove Soil ..................................................................................................8 3.3 BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC..........................................................................................................9 3.3.1 Phytoplankton......................................................................................................................9 3.3.2 Mangrove Trees and Shrubs...............................................................................................9 3.3.3 Zooplankton.........................................................................................................................9 3.3.4 Macrobenthos......................................................................................................................9 3.3.5 Fish......................................................................................................................................9 3.3.6 Reptiles and Amphibians ..................................................................................................10 3.3.7 Mammals...........................................................................................................................11 4. AFFORESTATION ..............................................................................................................................11 4.1 AFFORESTATION ACTIVITIES...........................................................................................................11 4.2 EVALUATION OF MANGROVE AFFORESTATION .................................................................................13 5. SOCIAL USE AND OWNERSHIP.......................................................................................................13 5.1 OWNERSHIP ..................................................................................................................................13 5.2 UTILISATION ..................................................................................................................................13 5.2.1 Wise Utilization..................................................................................................................13 5.2.2 Destructive Utilization........................................................................................................13 5.3 POTENTIAL UTILISATION.................................................................................................................14 5.4 CURRENT MANAGEMENT REGIME...................................................................................................14 5.4.1 Current Status ...................................................................................................................14 5.4.2 Ambiguous Status of Mangrove in China..........................................................................15 Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand NATIONAL REPORT ON MANGROVES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA – CHINA 6. ECONOMIC VALUATION ...................................................................................................................16 6.1 DIRECT USE VALUES .....................................................................................................................16 6.2 INDIRECT USE VALUES...................................................................................................................16 6.2.1 Benefits to Inshore Fisheries.............................................................................................16 6.2.2 Mangrove Values in Tourism ............................................................................................16 6.3 VALUE OF MANGROVE’S CONTRIBUTION TO ENVIRONMENT..............................................................17 7. THREATS, PRESENT AND FUTURE ................................................................................................18 7.1 HUMAN PRESSURE ........................................................................................................................18 7.1.1 Reclamation for Paddy Field and Salt Industry...............................................................18 7.1.2 Conversion of Mangrove Land for Shrimp Farming........................................................18 7.1.3 Building Materials............................................................................................................18 7.1.4 Coastal Levee Construction ............................................................................................18 7.1.5 Construction of Ports and City Expansion ......................................................................18 7.1.6 Grazing............................................................................................................................18 7.1.7 Fruit Collecting ................................................................................................................19 7.1.8 Firewood..........................................................................................................................19 7.1.9 Medicine and Green Manure...........................................................................................19 7.1.10 Digging ............................................................................................................................19 7.1.11 Overfishing ......................................................................................................................19 7.1.12 Feed Collecting ...............................................................................................................19 7.1.13 Poultry Raising and Apiculture ........................................................................................19 7.1.14 Tourism ...........................................................................................................................19 7.1.15 Pollution...........................................................................................................................20 7.1.16 Engineering Impacts........................................................................................................20 7.2 NATURAL PHENOMENA ..................................................................................................................20