Management Action Plans for Development of Mangrove Forest Reserves

Mangroves are recognized as a productive and pivotal ecosystem by providing habitats for many types of biodiversity, sources of food and medicines, heighten socio-economic of local communities, contribute towards climate regulations and coastal protection from sporadic windstorm events. These ecosystems are widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Mangroves are basically generated from sediment complexes which has evolved over the last several thousand years. This resulted in a combination of geomorphic processes operating at a sea level close to its current position and ultimately acting as a bridge connecting the land and sea. Among tree communities found in this productive area are from some species such as Rhizophora spp., Avicennia spp., and Bruguiera spp. Overexploitation of mangroves through human activities such as illegal logging and encroachment, wildlife poaching, expansion of agricultural as well as aquaculture practices, apparently becomes among rapid drivers for degradation to this majestic ecosystem. Without proper control over these activities will serve the extinction on mangrove forests. Therefore, proper management action plans towards establishment of forest reserves in mangrove areas are needed to overcome such threats. Moreover, the management action plan is critical to guide policy and decision makers, local authorities, stakeholders, and communities to play their roles to ensure the sustainability of mangrove forests and their resources. This chapter reviews related available policies, process, and stages that encapsulated within recent scientific studies on mangrove forests globally towards the development of effective management action plans to promote the sustainability of mangrove forest reserves.