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Mangrove forests in a peri-urban setting: the case of Mombasa (Kenya)

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Abstract

The structure and regeneration patterns of the peri-urban mangrove vegetation of Mombasa at Tudor creek were studied along belt transects at two forest sites of Kombeni and Tsalu. Based on the species importance values, the dominant mangrove species were Rhizophora mucronata Lam. (Rhizophoraceae) and Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. (Avicenniaceae). Lumnitzera racemosa Willd., reported in an earlier floristic survey, was not encountered. Tree density varied from 1,264 trees ha–1 at Kombeni to 1,301 trees ha–1 at Tsalu and mean tree height was higher at the former site compared to the latter. The size-class structure at both localities showed the numerical dominance of small trees over larger trees. The spatial distribution pattern of adults and juveniles varied greatly between sites and showed a close to uniform pattern (Morisita’s Index I δ ≪ 1) for adult trees, but a tendency to clustered distribution (I δ ≫ 1) for juveniles. The present paper shows that unmanaged but exploited peri-urban mangroves are structurally stressed, having enlarged canopy gaps that are characterised by spatial and temporal site heterogeneity that influences regeneration, implying longer periods for canopy closure. Diversifying uses of mangrove products and establishing reserves as no cut zones with regulated harvesting will minimise canopy gap sizes, and promote conservation practices. The proposed management strategy shall boost the ecosystem resilience to both anthropogenic and natural stressors expected in the peri-urban setting in the long run.

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Acknowledgements

We express our appreciation to the local communities for their support in the sampling campaigns, and colleagues at KMFRI and KWS Coast Region Research station. The work described in this paper was supported by a PhD. Scholarship from the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) in Belgium and the EU funded PUMPSEA project (FP6-INCO contract no. 510863).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biocomplexity Research Focus, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Mangrove Management Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Mohamed Omar Said Mohamed, Griet Neukermans, Farid Dahdouh-Guebas & Nico Koedam

  2. Kenya Wildlife Service, Mombasa Field Research Station, P.O. Box 82144-80100, Mombasa, Kenya

    Mohamed Omar Said Mohamed

  3. Kenyan Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 81651-80100, Mombasa, Kenya

    Mohamed Omar Said Mohamed & James Gitundu Kairo

  4. Département de Biologie des Organismes, Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, Campus du Solbosch, CP 169, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Farid Dahdouh-Guebas

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  1. Mohamed Omar Said Mohamed
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Mohamed, M.O.S., Neukermans, G., Kairo, J.G. et al. Mangrove forests in a peri-urban setting: the case of Mombasa (Kenya). Wetlands Ecol Manage 17, 243–255 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-008-9104-8

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