People and Mangroves: Biocultural Utilization of Mangrove Forest Ecosystem in Southeast Asia

Background

Mangrove forests in Southeast Asia are recognized as biodiverse ecosystems that offer ecological, social, and economic benefits. However, this region also experiences the highest global rates of mangrove loss. This is concerning because the decline of mangrove forests in Southeast Asia potentially leads to the loss of valuable indigenous and local knowledge systems (ILKS) and even the disappearance of ethnic cultures.

Goals and Methods

The goal of this systematic review is to explore the biocultural contribution of mangroves in Southeast Asia, specifically investigating how coastal communities directly benefit from mangrove forests, identifying the various biocultural utilizations of mangroves in the region, and examining the cultural and spiritual significance of these ecosystems for different coastal communities. The researchers use the Google Scholar database to search for peer-reviewed research articles published in English between 2007 and 2022, using a combination of terms such as "biocultural," "mangrove," "Southeast Asia," and "local knowledge." The researchers categorize the qualitative data on cultural and spiritual values using "biocultural lenses", i.e., different types of interactions and perceived benefits provided by nature that sustain cultural heritage.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The study concludes that despite the rich biocultural diversity of Southeast Asia, there are only 33 studies in the last 15 years that focus on the biocultural uses of mangroves. The majority of these studies originate from Indonesia, followed by Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Mangroves serve as biocultural refugia, deeply connected with traditional management practices rooted in their cultural and spiritual importance. The research identifies seven key biocultural uses of mangroves: food source, cultural and spiritual use, livelihood source, construction materials, fuelwood and charcoal, medicinal use, and fish poison and fishing material. The authors recommend that community-based mangrove conservation projects adopt a more culture-sensitive approach that respectfully integrates indigenous and local knowledge systems and practices. They emphasize the need for further research into both the tangible and intangible biocultural values of mangroves to promote their sustainable utilization and conservation in Southeast Asia.