what is the use of magrov trees ?

Answer 1

The roots of the mangrove plants provide a habitat for oysters and help to impede water flow; thereby enhancing the deposition of sediment in areas where it is already occurring. It is usually the case that the fine, anoxic sediments under mangroves act as sinks for a variety of heavy (trace) metals which are scavenged from the overlying seawater by colloidal particles in the sediments. In areas of the world where mangroves have been removed for development purposes, the disturbance of these underlying sediments often creates problems of trace metal contamination of seawater and biota.

It is often stated that mangroves provide significant value in the coastal zone as a buffer against erosion, storm surge and tsunamis. While there is some attenuation of wave heights and energy as seawater passes through mangrove stands, it must be recognised that these trees typically inhabit areas of coastline where low wave energies are the norm. Therefore their capacity to ameliorate high energy events like storm surge and tsunamis is limited. Their long term impact on rates of erosion is also likely to be limited. Many river channels that wind through mangrove areas are actively eroding stands of mangroves on the outer sides of all the river bends, just as new stands of mangroves are appearing on the inner sides of these same bends where sediment is accreting.

They also provide habitats for wildlife, including several commercially important species of fish and crustacea and in at least some cases export of carbon fixed in mangroves is important in coastal foodwebs. In Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and India, mangrove plantations are grown in coastal regions for the benefits they provide to coastal fisheries and other uses.

Mangroves support unique ecosystems, especially on their intricate root systems. In areas where roots are permanently submerged, mangroves may be host to a wide variety of organisms, including algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, and bryozoans, which all require a hard substrata for anchoring while they filter feed. Mangroves are excellent buffers between the violent ocean and the fragile coast, especially during hurricanes, which can bring powerful storm surges onto shores. The massive mangrove root system is quite efficient at dissipating wave energy. This same root system also helps prevent coastal erosion. As tidal water flows through the root system, it is slowed substantially enough so that it deposits its sediment as the tide comes in, and the return flow is kept slow as the tide goes out to prevent resuspension of some of the finer particles. As a result, mangroves can build their own environment.

Mangrove habitats can host considerable biodiversity and are found in numerous tropical regions, with important examples of mangrove swamps in Antigua, Florida, St. Lucia and Madagascar, the latter even admixed at the coastal verge of Madagascar dry deciduous forests. Because of the uniqueness of the mangrove ecosystems it is frequently the object of conservation programs including national Biodiversity Action Plans.

Answer 2

mine's still put away from last year. i don't like putting it up too soon. then i tend to leave it up for a long time after. plus, i'm having a hard time deciding where to put it, my house seems to keep shrinking over the years. (edit...with 3 dogs and now 10 cats it's getting a bit crowded for a tree in this small house, but i'll fiqure something out... ; )

Answer 3

They form breeding centers of fish and are good shelters for many species

Answer 4

u can visit the following website for info on mangroves and its uses:

http://www.lee-county.com/DCD/Environmental/Mangroves.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrove

http://www.floridaplants.com/horticulture/mangrove.htm

http://www.lee-county.com/DCD/Environmental/Mangroves.htm

http://www.mangrovemania.com/mangrove_commercial.html

Commercial Uses for Mangroves

Mangrove is a source of timber, fuel, railroad ties and tannin in the tropics. Having a short crop rotation period makes red mangroves a popular choice for posts and poles in managed forests in Malaysia. In Asia, commercial mangrove production is necessary for the construction of boats, houses and furniture.

The wood of the tree has a high calorific value, meaning it produces high heat when burned, making it the wood of choice in the manufacture of charcoal in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Mangrove charcoal is one of the heaviest charcoals. It is used for BBQ in restaurants, outdoor picnic charcoal packs, and in some industrial applications like metal production. One advantage of this charcoal is it gives a special aroma to BBQ when burning. There are two types of mangrove charcoal: trunk and branch.
NOTE: Mangrove charcoal is not available through this website.

The bark, leaf shoots and roots of the trees supply tannin used for dyes, leather preservatives and furniture stains.

Mangrove sap is used by East Africans and Polynesians to make the black dye for tapa cloth.

Leaves are used for livestock food, as "green manure" in fishponds, and as tea and tobacco. The fruits are said to be edible and flowers are a source of honey and fish poison.

Mangroves are being studied as a source of pesticides and agrochemical compounds. Toxins found in mangroves may play a future roll in repelling insects.

Resin extracted from the tree is used in producing plywood adhesives. The manufacture of chipboard and pulpwood (newspaper and cardboard), all depend on by-products of the red mangrove.

The ash of the red mangrove is used as a soap substitute and other mangrove extracts are used to produce synthetic fibers, such as rayon, and cosmetics.

Mangroves are also used as a source of food (mangrove-derived honey, vinegar, salt and cooking oil) and drink (alcohol and wine).

In Japan, Australia and the United States, germinated propagules are planted in non-porous pots, making unique houseplants.

Recreational Uses for Mangroves

Tarpon, snook, sheepshead, jewfish, snapper, jack, bluegill, redfish, bass, and sea trout are just a few mangrove inhabitants that provide sportfishing enthusiasts an abundance of enjoyment world-wide.

If you're a birdwatcher, mangroves are home to a variety of birds. Ospreys, wood storks, a variety of herons and egrets, bald eagles, cormorants, brown pelicans, ibis and roseate spoonbills, among others, all make their homes in mangrove branches and hunt for their food in the prop roots.

Mangroves are attractive to tourists because of the fauna that inhabit these forests. In Florida, you may see manatees, alligators, crocodiles, raccoons and snakes, just to name a few.

Mangroves are best explored by canoe or kayak in many of Florida's State Parks or Everglades National Park. Kayaking and canoeing ecotours are available around the world in many exotic regions.

Medicinal uses of Mangroves:

Numerous mangrove plants are used in folklore medicine. Extracts from mangroves and mangrove-dependent species have proven effective against human, animal and plant pathogens, but only limited investigations have been carried out to identify the metabolites responsible for their bioactivities.
Skin disorders and sores - including leprosy - may be treated with ashes or bark infusions of certain species of mangrove. Reported to be an astringent, emmenagogue, expectorant, hemostat, styptic and tonic, red mangrove is a folk remedy for angina, asthma, backache, boils, constipation, convulsions, diarrhea, dysentery, dyspepsia, elephantiasis, eye ailments, fever, fungal infections, headaches, hemorrhage, inflammation, jaundice, kidney stones, lesions, malaria, malignancies, rheumatism, snakebites, sores, sore throat, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, ulcers and wounds.

A cure for throat cancer by gargling with extract of mangrove bark has been reported by a Cali, Colombia doctor.

More information on the chemical constituents of these plants is needed, not only for the discovery of new drugs, but because such information may be of use to those interested in "deciphering" the value of folklore remedies.

Answer 5

Ecologically mangroves are important in maintaining and building the soil, as a reservoir in the tertiary assimilation of waste, and in the global cycle of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and sulfur. The protection against: cyclones is a "free" benefit. Yet hidden benefits from mangroves, specially in marginal areas, may even be more important than the obvious ones. They play a significant role in coastal stabilization and promoting land accretion, fixation of mud banks, dissipation of winds, tidal and wave energy.

Transplanting saltmarsh vegetation is an alternative erosion control method which is relatively inexpensive and proven to be effective on some shorelines. The aerial plant parts dissipate waves, act as a living groyne by accumulating sediment and the tough mat of roots and rhizomes stabilizes the substrate (Broom et al., 1981). They trap sediments and thus contribute to land building and prevent excessive shifting of coastline sand. A relatively recent commercial use of recreation and ecotourism.

The uses of mangroves are many and varied. A fundamental function of all forests has been to supply timber for cooking, heating and constructing dwellings, and mangrove forests are no exception (Watson, 1929; FAO, 1982). Traditionally, people have used mangroves for the benefit of the local community, but increasing populations have led to an increasing non-sustainable abuse of the resources.



Traditionally, people have used mangroves for the benefit of the local community, but increasing populations have led to an increasing non-sustainable abuse of the resources

Mangroves have been exploited for timber for building dwellings and boats and fuel-wood for cooking and heating. Palm species are used, especially in Southeast Asia and Brazil, to construct jetties and other submerged structures because they are resistant to rot and to attack by fungi and borers. Rhizophora and, to a lesser extent, Avicennia woods have a high calorific value and are excellent fuels for the boilers of trains in Pakistan. In Indonesia, commercial exploitation of mangroves for charcoal is reported from 1887. In Central America, the direct use for charcoal production and the extraction of tannin has been responsible for large-scale mangrove removal and degradation. Large-scale conversion of mangroves for wood chip production began in East Malaysia and Indonesia during the 1970s. Mangrove wood chips are still a major export from Kalimantan.


Mangroves are used in flavouring agents, textiles, mats, paper, housing, baskets, boats and tapa cloth and also used as staple food


In Malaysia, where mangroves occur in profusion, an important cottage industry is the manufacture of shingles for roof thatching from the fronds of Nypa fruticans. Basketry, corks and floats are obtained from the pneumatophores. Rhizophora apiculata has been exported from the Philippines to various parts of the world for utilization in the textile industry and extracts of stilt roots exhibited mosquito larvicidal activity. In Sri Lanka, Cerebera manghas is used in making masks for many traditional cultural activities. Pulp for paper, matchsticks, household utensils, agricultural implements and toys are some other products produced from mangroves. In Japan, propagules of Rhizophora and Bruguiera are planted in pots and make good decorations when germinated.

The tender leaves of Acrostichum, the hypocotyls of Bruguiera, are the staple food of some Papua New Guineans. Leaves of Osbornia octodonata are flavouring agents. Fibres, mats, paper and tapa cloth are products of Hibiscus tiliaceus, Thespesia populnea and Pandanus spp.

A local industry in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh and India is the production of honey and, in Bangladesh, a large number of people including wood and thatch cutters, honey and wax collectors and fishermen are directly dependent on the mangroves. Fruits of Avicennia marina are universally used as vegetables. The fruits of Kandelia candel and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza contain starch and if sliced, soaked in water to rinse out tannins and then ground to a paste can make excellent cakes or sweetened stuffing for pastry.


The indigenous people of Australia and Sri Lanka use extracts from mangrove plants as valuable sources of dyes

"Sagu" is taken from the mangrove palm tree Metroxylon sagu found in Southeast Asia where the hypocotyts of Bruguiera are also an accepted food item. Intoxicating drinks are made from the sap of the "coconut" of Nypa and Borassus. The common Nypa plant, in addition to sugar, provides a diversity of products, including thatch from the leaves and alcohol and vinegar obtained by distillation of the fermented sugary phloem sap. Cooking oil and cigarette wrappers are also products obtained from many species of mangroves. Extracts of the heartwood of Avicennia alba and A. officinalis have tonic properties. It is reported that some mangrove plants and extracts are used as incense, perfumes, hair preservatives, condiments and aphrodisiacs. Edible jelly and a kind of salt are made from the ashed leaflets.
Among the coastal lagoons along the west coast of Africa, the villagers produce salt by using a technique of boiling brackish water placed in a clay bowl over a fire made from Avicennia. On the west coast of Sri Lanka twigs and branches, mainly of Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata and Lumnitzera racemosa, are used to form "brush piles" or "brush parks" in a specially devised fishing method. The gathering of mangrove leaves (e.g. Suaeda and Porteresia) for animal fodder remains widespread in the Near East and South Asia, and for feeding camels in Iran and India.

To a limited degree, the indigenous people of Australia and Sri Lanka use extracts from mangrove plants as valuable sources of dyes.

The importance of bark tannins has declined in many Asian countries, but mangrove tannin is still used in India and Bangladesh for leather curing and in Sri Lanka tannin is used traditionally in curing fishnets. The tannins comprise two groups of phenolic constituents, hydrolysable and condensed, which are important economically as agents for the synthesis of certain medicines.

Their potential value as cytotoxic and/or antineoplastic agents and as antimicrobial agents has been demonstrated.



The exploitation and value of aquatic products from mangrove ecosystems is of great significance today



Mangrove plants are rich sources of saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids. Plant saponins have been shown to have interesting biological activities such as spermicidal and molluscicidal activity.

The extraction of natural chemical compounds, in addition to those already known to the pharmacopoeia of the people, continues to this day and among the latest additions are an array of substances from glues to alkaloids and saponins and many other substances of interest to modern industry and medicine.

An alternative source of wealth in the mangroves is the exploitation of the fish, molluscs and crustaceans that abound in the mangrove areas. In Vietnam, farmers complement their income by collecting and sorting shells from the mangrove mud flats. The exploitation and value of aquatic products from mangrove ecosystems is of great significance today.



A relatively recent commercial use of mangroves is for recreation and ecotourism

Use of mangroves as natural sewage-treatment plants has been considered. Mangroves trap sediments and so contribute to land building, preventing erosion and excessive shifting of coastlines.

A relatively recent commercial use of mangroves is for recreation and ecotourism. In Australia, mangrove habitats play a significant role in programs of conservation, recreation and researching methods of establishing nature reserves, sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves.