photo by Noven Chew

BiodiversityMangroves are home for many species of plants and animals

Erosion controlThe dense roots and soils

reduce coastal risks such as storm and wave damage

Fish nurseryThe intricate root system is

a feeding area and breeding ground for many fish species

Carbon StorageThe rich soils store, on average,

four times as much carbon as tropical forests, protecting

against climate change

Why restore mangroves?

What is RUM? A community project to restore

mangroves in abandoned aquaculture ponds at Pulau Ubin

6 steps to successful EMR

1. Understand the mangrove species ecology, including reproduction and establishment along physical gradients.

2. Understand the hydrology and elevation that controls mangrove species establishment and distribution.

3. Assess the modifications of the mangrove environment that are currently preventing natural mangrove establishment.

4. Select the most appropriate restoration site and consider social factors such as communities and land tenure.

5. Design the restoration site to restore the appropriate hydrology

and utilize natural seedling recruitment.

6. Plant seedlings in the correct environmental location,

if a greater seedling density is required in a shorter time.

Why EMR?

Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) works with mangrove elevation and hydrology to naturally improve restoration success.

Instead of manually planting mangrove species, EMR focuses on making sure the site conditions are suitable for natural regeneration. EMR allows us to produce a self-sustaining wetland ecosystem.

In recent years there have been great efforts to restore and rehabilitate mangroves in order to reduce their decline. However, restoration success rates are often as low as 1-2%, and commonly less than 20%.

By taking into account physical processes such as tides, waves, and hydrology, mangrove survival will be more successful!

In Southeast Asia, Mangroves are being lost at a faster rate than other ecosystems such as terrestrial rainforests and coral reefs. In Singapore, we lost almost 90% of our mangroves between 1953 and 2011.

http://rum-initiative.blogspot.sg/

Restore Ubin Mangroves (R.U.M.) Initiative

Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) Re

store Ubin Mangroves Initiative

Let M

other Nature do the plan�ng

R.U.M.

photo by Lee Yee Ting

photo by Lisa Lim

What will we be doing?

Coastal cleanupWe need to prepare the

site through regular coastal cleanups.

We need to know whatlives in the mangroves

We find out by conducting regular biodiversity surveys.

We need to know where mangroves like to grow

We find out by creating a map using an instrument called the “Total Station”. This measures

the elevation of the site.

We need to know exactly how much tidal water mangroves likeWe measure this using instruments

called “tide gauges”.

Who is involved?

Dept of Geography, National University of Singapore

Pulau Ubin fish farmers

Marine Conservation Group, Nature Society (Singapore)

Gamefish and Aquatic Rehabilitation Society (GARS)

wildsingapore

YOU too!

Sungei Puaka SiteSungei Ubin/

Sungei Durian site

Where will we be working?

with support from NParks