5. Implications
Fence construction techniques now need to be tested under
different conditions (erosion, accretion, sea currents, tidal ranges
and water depth) that exist in other coastal areas to determine how
the design principles can be adaptively applied elsewhere. The
results of this study site provide a new option in shoreline erosion
control and mangrove restoration. The methods developed here
can assist people in coastal regions to mitigate the impacts of
climate change by addressing the effects of increasing coastal
erosion, and inundation resulting from sea level rise and extreme
climatic events.
Our method proved effective in promoting natural recruitment
in restoration areas through fence building may be a better choice
than the common practice of planting trees. Successful mangrove
restoration might not need artificial planting (Kamali and Hashim,
2011). It significantly reduces cost of both nursery and planting
activities while improving quality of the regenerated forest
because wild seedlings often grow better than direct planted
ones (Field, 1998). This study has shown that Melaleuca fences can
assist natural regeneration in both erosion (by using a structure of
2 fences – wave breaking fence and silt trap fence) and accretion
sites (silt trap fence).
Planting should be the
final activity in mangrove restoration
program (Lewis and Marshall, 1997). If planting must be
undertaken, it should be done carefully with right site matching
and species selection (Field, 1998). Pioneer species such as
Avicennia spp. should be selected for initial planting because this