The impacts of the mangrove ecosystem: a case study at Kampung Menteri, Kuala Sepetang

Kuala Sepetang is one of the sites that the Perak State is famous for because of it's coastal heritage for “The Matang Mangrove” located along the Perak State Coastline. The Kuala Sepetang mangrove ecosystem is home to the largest protected and most accessible mangrove reserve in Peninsular Malaysia. From this ecosystem, the research focuses on Kampung Menteri, Kuala Sepetang. The research considers the socio-economic activities and conservation of mangroves providing ecosystem services that protect shorelines, and support biodiversity in relation to the eco. This study examines the ecological and socio-economic significance of the Kuala Sepetang mangrove ecosystem through three key objectives, to evaluate the key ecological functions of the mangrove ecosystem, to evaluating the socio-economic contributions of mangroves to local livelihoods through fishing, forestry, and ecotourism activities and to analyze community perceptions and adaptive strategies toward mangrove conservation and resource utilization. The research uses a mixed-methods design which combines field observations with socio-economic surveys based on questionnaires, which aims at delineating how the resources in the community are being used, the conservation practices being employed, and the community’s perceived level of threat to the resources. The results showed a high level of community awareness and positive views toward mangrove conservation, with strong emphasis on active community participation as a key adaptive strategy for sustainable mangrove management.