Vulnerability assessment and blue carbon potential of two mangrove sites in Malaysia / Teh Lay Hoon
Coastal blue carbon is an emerging subject in climate change science which looks into coastal habitats such as mangrove forests for its ability to sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere. Mirroring the concept of “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation” (REDD+), the c...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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2015
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| Online Access: | http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7915/1/All.pdf http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7915/6/SGH100001_TEHLAYHOON_MTECH_FINAL.pdf http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7915/ |
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| Summary: | Coastal blue carbon is an emerging subject in climate change science which looks into
coastal habitats such as mangrove forests for its ability to sequester and store carbon from
the atmosphere. Mirroring the concept of “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
Forest Degradation” (REDD+), the concept of coastal blue carbon is also about the
incentives given in return for preserving these coastal habitats for its role in climate
change mitigation.
As mangrove forests in Malaysia are facing rapid rate of degradation, this study is about
assessing the coastal blue carbon as a viability to facilitate better mangrove conservation
measures in Malaysia through its incentives.
For this study, two mangrove forest sites were selected from southern Johor to determine
the level of vulnerability that these habitats are facing, while taking into consideration of
the current management and policy in place. For this assessment, the baseline information
of the study sites were collected and used in developing criteria to which the vulnerability
assessment was conducted. The aim of the vulnerability assessment is to identify the
prevailing threats on mangrove forests and establish the notion that the current
conservation approaches may not be sufficient to protect these habitats. As a following
step, the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) were used as a tool to evaluate the
benefits of implementing coastal blue carbon in the current management approach.
Subsequently, gaps and challenges faced by the current management and policies relating
to mangrove conservation in Malaysia were identified, and case studies were conducted
as a mean to ascertain how best the coastal blue carbon mechanism can be adapted into
the current structure for it to be effective.
The research shows that while the mangrove in Malaysia has a large carbon storage
potential, the prevailing threats currently faced by the vulnerable mangrove forests are
quickly diminishing its capacity. It was also found that there is a need for Malaysia to establish an extensive network of collaborations among the relevant agencies within the
country, with concerting efforts from non-governmental organisations and academic
institutions in working towards proper carbon measurement and accounting. The main
aim is for a change in policy which can ensure that the protection of mangrove areas are
accounted more distinctively in the current policies and legislations. Given that the
importance of mangrove can be made quantifiable as an incentive in terms of carbon
credits and climate change mitigation, the conservation priority for mangrove could be
significantly increased. |
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