The overall change in area
during the 18-year period indicated the loss of mangrove area at
8017.3 ha, while 2998 ha was newly planted or rehabilitated.
Decline of the mangrove area indicated that the mangrove areawas
converted to water bodies at 2490.6 ha (31.1%), dry land forest at
2456.6 ha (30.6%), oil plantation at 1518.6 ha (18.9%), aquaculture at
890.7 ha (11.1%), paddy plantation at 391.1 ha (4.9%), horticulture at
245.6 ha (3.1%), and urban settlement area at 24.1 ha (0.3%). Conversion
of the mangrove into water body area was due to erosion
and tree harvesting rotation, while conversion to dry land forest
was due to transitional forest, and conversion to aquaculture was a
result of construction of shrimp ponds.